The government of Ethiopia iscalling for public input on its plan to liberalise its telecommunications market. In apress release, Ethiopian Communications Authorityasked forpublic views on its intention to 'issue two additional licenses for telecommunications services operators through a competitive process pursuant to the Communications Services Proclamation of Ethiopia'.
Ethiopia is coming out of a long period of singularlism,whichsaw multipleInternet shutdowns and arrests of bloggers. A new administration, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmedwhotook office last year, has been working to restore pluralism. The country is also in theprocess of privatising the state telecommunications corporation, Ethio Telecom.