\"\"
<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>By Giulia Paravicini<\/strong>

ADDIS ABABA: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta<\/a> on Tuesday urged Ethiopia to open up its telecoms sector<\/a> to private mobile money business investors, a move that would complement a process already underway to reform the sector and bring in foreign investment.

Ethiopia is opening up its telecoms sector, hitherto a monopoly of the state-owned
Ethio Telecom<\/a>, and last month authorities awarded the first private operator licence.

The licence was handed out to a consortium led by Kenya's
Safaricom<\/a>, Vodafone<\/a>, and Japan's Sumitomo 8053.T.

Currently though only Ethio Telecom is allowed to offer mobile financial services while foreign operators are barred by law from participating. Mobile money is a term for banking transactions made using a phone or other mobile device.

\"I am hopeful that your government will consider in the near future, opening up the opportunity for mobile money in Ethiopia,\"
Kenyatta<\/a>, who is on a visit to Ethiopia, said at a ceremony in the capital Addis Ababa where the consortium was officially awarded its operating licence.

\"This move will be particularly timely, as it will offer the millions of Ethiopian people avenues for financial inclusion.\"
\"Ethiopia<\/a><\/figure>

Ethiopia receives two bids for two telecoms operating licences<\/a><\/h2>

Vodafone, Vodacom, the United Kingdom's CDC Group and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation are also part of the consortium, the finance ministry said in a tweet announcing the two bids it had received.<\/p><\/div>

\"\"
<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>By Giulia Paravicini<\/strong>

ADDIS ABABA: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta<\/a> on Tuesday urged Ethiopia to open up its telecoms sector<\/a> to private mobile money business investors, a move that would complement a process already underway to reform the sector and bring in foreign investment.

Ethiopia is opening up its telecoms sector, hitherto a monopoly of the state-owned
Ethio Telecom<\/a>, and last month authorities awarded the first private operator licence.

The licence was handed out to a consortium led by Kenya's
Safaricom<\/a>, Vodafone<\/a>, and Japan's Sumitomo 8053.T.

Currently though only Ethio Telecom is allowed to offer mobile financial services while foreign operators are barred by law from participating. Mobile money is a term for banking transactions made using a phone or other mobile device.

\"I am hopeful that your government will consider in the near future, opening up the opportunity for mobile money in Ethiopia,\"
Kenyatta<\/a>, who is on a visit to Ethiopia, said at a ceremony in the capital Addis Ababa where the consortium was officially awarded its operating licence.

\"This move will be particularly timely, as it will offer the millions of Ethiopian people avenues for financial inclusion.\"
\"Ethiopia<\/a><\/figure>

Ethiopia receives two bids for two telecoms operating licences<\/a><\/h2>

Vodafone, Vodacom, the United Kingdom's CDC Group and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation are also part of the consortium, the finance ministry said in a tweet announcing the two bids it had received.<\/p><\/div>