Telecom, media, tech investment and consolidation activity in Africa is predicted to reach a record high for 2019 as a number of significant deals including the opening up of Ethiopia’s telecom sector are scheduled, reports specialist news provider TMT Finance
According to TMT Finance, pan-African telecom operators MTN, Orange and Vodacom are among those seeking to enter Ethiopia for the opportunity to serve its 105mn population following progress in the telecom privatisation process.
The report added that government-owned Ethio Telecom, which has around 66mn customers, took a major step forward in its much-anticipated privatisation last month by pre-selecting six consultancies in partnership with the World Bank.
Ethio will be split into two businesses, offering tremendous growth potential to new entrants, it further stated.
Privatisations of telecom assets are also planned for Togocom and Benin Telecom in West Africa, with consolidation investments expected in Kenya and Tunisia.
Airtel has hired banks for an IPO of its entire Africa portfolio, while several telcos bid for Millicom’s assets. The acceleration of investment in mobile and broadband infrastructure across the region continues as operators and investors try to meet the need for data services.
