Ethiopia: Telecommunications

(asked on 27th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much CDC has invested in the acquisition of the Ethiopia telecoms license with Vodafone and other consortium members; whether Ministerial approval was sought on that acquisition; and on what date such approval was sought.


Answered by
James Duddridge Portrait
James Duddridge
This question was answered on 9th June 2021

The Global Partnership for Ethiopia was created specifically to bring about transformational economic and social impact through the provision of affordable mobile and internet services in Ethiopia.

The investment is expected to:

  • Open access for the first time for c.24 million Ethiopians to digital health, agriculture, education and skills services by 2032.
  • Cut prices by up to 75% for mobile internet services by 2032.
  • Significantly boost the economy of Ethiopia, including by enabling productivity improvements for over one million small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-entrepreneurs.

CDC expects to make a total investment commitment of circa $200 million as part of the Global Partnership for Ethiopia consortium.

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