By: Tewodros Balcha
Ethiopia’s
Innovation and Technology Minister Frehiwot Tamru has directed the country’s
communications regulator to measure its performance by improvements in service
quality, affordability, consumer protection and access, rather than
administrative outputs alone.
The directive
came during a review of the Ethiopian Communications Authority’s (ECA)
five-year performance, current fiscal year’s first-quarter results and
preparations for its next five-year strategy, the Ministry of Innovation and
Technology said on Tuesday.
Tamru called on
the regulator to assess whether licences issued were being used, what services
and innovations they enabled, and their contribution to employment and sector
growth. She also urged stronger spectrum management and enforcement of
service-quality standards.
The Minister
directed the Authority to work with telecommunications operators and regional
administrations to expand access in rural and underserved communities, with
measurable targets and clear implementation responsibilities.
The review also
highlighted the need to modernize Ethiopia’s postal regulatory framework, which
the Ministry said remains based on a proclamation issued in 1958 E.C. The ECA
was instructed to work with the Ministry and other stakeholders to prepare
updated legislation supporting digital modernization, service quality and wider
access.
Tamru also
called for a predictable regulatory environment that encourages investment and
fair competition, urging officials to eliminate unnecessary regulatory costs
that divert resources from network expansion and service improvements.
The Authority
was further directed to strengthen market-data sharing, assess staffing and
skills gaps, engage universities in developing sector-relevant curricula and
establish regular consultations with operators, service providers and
consumers.
The directions
are to inform ECA’s next five-year strategy, which the Ministry said should
include baseline data, measurable targets and indicators demonstrating public
benefit.
