Page 95 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

ITU Launches Innovation Challenges 2020

The International Telecoms Union (ITU, due to COVID-19. sectors, including agriculture, fashion,
the UN agency for information and • The Ecosystem Best Practice Challenge and health.
communication technology) has released looks for ecosystem builders to identify Applicants should submit their ideas and
details of its Innovation Challenges 2020, best practices that allow innovators innovations via the Co-Create Portal by 31
an open global competition platform to develop sustainable and resilient July 2020.
for innovators and ecosystem builders solutions to navigate technological The winners will be invited to an ITU
to present their ideas and projects, change and bridge the digital divide. event to pitch their proposals, connect
empowering them to transform their • The Women in Tech Challenge, in with mentors and expert to scale-up their
communities into thriving digital societies. cooperation with the EQUALS Global project and become member of a network
Adopting a COVID-19 theme for 2020, this Partnership, invites tech innovators to of past winners.
year’s competition seeks entries designed help and empower women in various
to nurture an inclusive digital world. The
completion supports the ITU’s drive for
countries to have policies and strategies
for ICT-centric innovation and calls on
innovators, entrepreneurs, policy-makers,
leaders and change makers to bridge the
innovation divide
There are three challenges to choose from:
• The Digital Change-maker Challenge
covers a wide range of topics from
Cybersecurity and regulation, to digital
inclusion and climate change, and calls
for participants to provide innovative
solutions to real-life problems faced
by stakeholders in their communities,
especially considering value chain
competitiveness and global disruption

Ethiopian Government to Sell Off 40% Stake in Ethio Telecom to International
Investors

The Ethiopian government is set to sell off a 40 per cent stake in country begins opening up its telecoms market. The government
state owned Ethio Telecom to private, international investors, as the will also make 5 per cent of shares in the company available
for purchase by the general public Ethiopia’s State Minister of
Finance, Eyob Tekalign Tolina, told journalists from the Reuters
news agency. The Ethiopian government will retain ownership of
the remaining 60 per cent of Ethio Telecom. In addition to selling
off the stake in Ethio Telecom, the Ethiopian government is also
set to auction off two 15 year licenses to prospective mobile
network operators to provide services across the country. The
licenses are expected to raise over $1 billion in revenues for the
government. The opening up of the country’s telecoms market is
an enticing prospect for telcos around the world looking to secure
a foothold in Africa’s second most populous nation, and the wider
region of East Africa. Vodacom Group, MTN Group Ltd, Orange SA
and Helios Towers have all expressed an interest in acquiring a
license in the country.
95 MAY 2020