Liberalisation of Ethiopia’s VSAT market applauded by comms sector
Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 15-11-2011The Ethiopian Government's decision to strategically liberalise its VSAT market has been welcomed by the international satellite communications sector as a first move in improving internet, data and voice communications services within the East African country.
Ethiopia's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) recently issued a new directive, to allow authorised companies to use VSAT services to transmit and receive voice, data and images via satellite within closed user groups. The move should, it said, "support development efforts of government projects, private investors and local communities".
David Hartshorn, secretary general, Global VSAT Forum (GVF) - the non-profit association of the satellite industry said: "With famine relief efforts underway in the region, and recognising Ethiopia's tremendous economic potential, this was clearly the right decision.
"We strongly endorse the Ethiopian government's commitment to facilitate delivery of mission-critical satellite communications. We also recommend a reduction of licensing fees, which would enable our sector to more effectively do our part to help advance Ethiopian standards of health, education, and commerce," he added.
The directive will help support famine relief efforts and other corporate enterprise, as well as providing connectivity to those living in remote parts of the country.
"Financial sustainability is always a major challenge, and licensing fee levels are an important factor in determining the success or failure of communications enterprises," said Matthew Botwin, chairman of the GVF Regulatory Working Group.
"Our sector looks forward to continuing our dialogue with the Ethiopian administration so that we can more fully realise our shared objectives in this important collaboration."
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