Is Ethiopian Tower Communications a state-owned enterprise

Telecom infrastructure in Ethiopia, including towers, is primarily controlled by the state-owned Ethio Telecom.Ethiopia's telecommunications sector has historically been dominated by Ethio Telecom, a government-owned enterprise that serves as the main provider of internet, telephone, and digital services in the country . Ethio Telecom, formerly known as the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC), is part of Ethiopia's "Big-5" state-owned corporations and generates significant revenue for the government . While the Ethiopian government has begun liberalizing the telecom market, including licensing private operators like Safaricom Ethiopia, telecom towers and related infrastructure remain largely under state control . The government has considered allowing private investors to build telecom towers to meet rising demand, but as of early 2023, Ethio Telecom continues to own and operate the majority of the country's telecom towers . This means that any entity referred to as "Ethiopian Tower Communications" would likely be part of, or closely associated with, the state-owned Ethio Telecom infrastructure network.Context on Market LiberalizationIn 2021, Ethiopia ended its telecom monopoly by licensing Safaricom Ethiopia as the first private operator . Despite this, Ethio Telecom remains the dominant player, and its infrastructure, including towers, forms the backbone of the national network . The company has also launched mobile money services (TeleBirr) and continues to expand its digital and 5G networks, reinforcing its central role in Ethiopia's telecom ecosystem .Key TakeawayWhile Ethiopia is gradually opening its telecom sector to private operators, telecom towers and core infrastructure are still primarily state-owned through Ethio Telecom, making Ethiopian Tower Communications, if referring to these assets, effectively a state-owned enterprise.