The introduction of
telecommunication in Ethiopia dates back to 1894. In those early years, the new
technological scheme contributed to the integration of the Ethiopian society when the
extensive open-wire line system was laid out linking the capital with all the important
administrative cities of the country. Most of the telecommunication network, however, was
completely destroyed during the Italian Fascist aggression when later on Ethiopia had to
start the development of its telecommunication facilities all over again.
When the Imperial Telecommunications Board
of Ethiopia was established by Proclamation 131/53 in 1953, it was granted full provision
of administrative and financial autonomy. The major objectives of the Board were: to
undertake the expansion of telecom services through the nation, to represent Ethiopia at
all International fora regarding telecom activities (except military communications), to
allocate and control all communication frequencies, and to train the required personnel in
a way expedient to its operation.
In order to achieve its objectives, the
organization had undergone through series of development programs.
Eventhough the institution had been granted
full autonomy by the above mentioned Proclamation, this organizational right has been
violated during the reign of the Military Regime.
Just before the implementation of the
seventh Telecom development program(1998-2001), in the Transitional years, several
projects have been executed to rehabilitate the network damaged by the 17 years of war
during the Military Regime.
BREAKTHROUGH: DETAILS
The Government of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia has carried out an overall restructuring program to change the
previously centralized command economy into a free and market oriented one with the aim of
making government owned enterprises more efficient and effective as well as encouraging
the participation of the private sector in the country’s economic progress. The
Government has also given a priority to the development of rural infrastructure, which had
been neglected by the previous regimes.
In line with this, the Telecommunications
sector was restructured and two separate independent entities, namely the Ethiopian
Telecommunications Agency (ETA) and the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC)
were established in 1996 by the Council of Ministers Regulation Number 10/96.
This Regulation separated the regulatory
and operational activities of the former Ethiopian Telecommunications Authority; the
regulatory power given to the Agency (ETA). ETA was established under the Ministry of
Transport and Communications to ensure the implementation of government policies, to
create a conducive atmosphere for private investment in the telecom sector as well as to
set standards for services and types of communications equipment - imported, assembled or
locally manufactured.
The Corporation was set-up as an operator
and restructured to engage in the expansion and improvement of telecom services, in
revitalizing telecom infrastructure development works and in operations of independent
telecommunications corporate business under a leadership of a board of directors with an
autonomous status.
The Corporation has now been given the
independence to invest its profit on the development of telecommunications network.
NEW ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP
The new organizational set-up of the
Corporation is expected to enhance the development of telecom infrastructure and the
quality and quantity of services in both in the rural and urban areas of the country in
the most efficient and timely manner possible.
ETC’s decentralization ensures
self-sufficiency of the eight regional, six zonal and multiple of area offices in the
provision of telecom services and in decision making at the lowest possible level of the
hierarchy.
The number of Departments and Divisions at
the head office has increased to six and 30 respectively after the restructuring. This
Multi-Divisional structure enables the Corporation to fulfill requirements for additional
new offices established to provide modern information technology services. |
