S. Sudan’s telecom company names new Ethiopian CEO
by Tesfa-Alem Tekle
January 20 2023 (NAIROBI) – Tele-Mobile South Sudan (TMSS) appointed the former Chief of Ethio-Telecom, Andualem Admase as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Andualem is expected to bring his rich experience in the telecom sector to TMSS, which is the fourth-largest telecommunications network company in South Sudan, following MTN, Zain, and Digitel.
Owned by renowned Ethiopian investor and philanthropist, Aysheshim Teka, TMSS aspires to expand its services in the South Sudanese telecom market.
It’s to be recalled that the Ethiopian investor in South Sudan, Aysheshim Teka, was awarded the “Africa Economy Builders Awards” last year in Côte d’Ivoire for his outstanding contributions to economic development in Africa.
Andualem worked for the Ethiopian telecom monopoly for eight years where he was Chief Internal Audit Officer from 2010 to 2012, Chief Human Resource Officer from 2012 to 2013 and Chief Executive Officer from 2013 to 2018.
He also served as Director of the Ethiopia Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA).
His appointment as TMSS CEO comes one month after Ethio-Telecom signed a strategic partnership deal with Tele Mobile South Sudan Ltd.
The agreement was signed last December after a delegation from the management team of Ethio-Telecom paid a working visit to Juba to explore the telecom market in the world’s Newest nation.
The agreement allows the two firms to work in the area of international internet gateways/communication lines, telecom infrastructure expansion, telecom services provision, and other related services.
In Juba, the Ethiopian delegation reportedly discussed a range of issues with senior officials of South Sudanese telecom sector governing offices including the Information and Communications Ministry and the National Communications Authority.
The discussions were focused “particularly capitalizing on the telecom infrastructure demands and expansion projects that can be undertaken through the cooperation of the two neighbouring countries,” said Ethio Telecom in a statement.
South Sudanese authorities appreciated the initiative of Ethio telecom for exploring the telecom market in the neighbouring nation.
The officials also affirmed their readiness to provide all necessary support to Ethio Telecom in this endeavour, the statement states.
“One of the reasons for the visit of the leaders of the institution is that South Sudan is interested in connecting with the international telecom fibre line through Ethio Telecom,” said Frehiwot Tamuru, Ethio Telecom CEO.
South Sudan receives most of its telecom services using satellites from other countries. As a result, the cost of telecom services in the country is high.
“Fiber deployment may incur a one-time cost; Since it will be used for a long time, it will be possible to provide the Internet at a low price,” chief communication officer of Ethio-Telecom, Ato Mesai Wubshet, told Ethiopia Insider further explaining the benefit it would bring to South Sudan compared to that of satellite use.
Ethio telecom, a pioneering telecom operator in Africa, has been serving Ethiopia for long years.
As part of this cooperation, Ethio Telecom promises to share with the South Sudanese authorities its experience in the extension and management of telecom infrastructures, as well as in the provision of telecom services at affordable prices.
The company has also signed a partnership agreement with the public company Tele Mobile South Sudan Limited Company concerning international internet gateways and communication lines, the extension of infrastructures and the provision of telecom services.
This move may be part of Ethio Telecom’s ambitions to explore growth opportunities in other markets as competition intensifies in Ethiopia.
For the South Sudanese authorities, this partnership is part of their efforts to guarantee the availability and accessibility of telecom services in the country.
The South Sudanese government recently signed a partnership memorandum of understanding with the government of Djibouti for the interconnection of the two countries by a fibre optic network.
Since 2020, the country has also benefited from a fibre optic interconnection with Kenya.
Last week, Ethio Telecom announced that it is conducting a feasibility study to engage in South Sudan’s telecom market.
Recently, South Sudan’s Director-General of the National Communication Authority revealed plans to connect South Sudan with fibre optic cables through Ethiopia to reduce communication costs.
Speaking on the state-run TV SSBC, Napoleon Adok said discussions are underway with the Ethiopian Telecom company to reach a deal on the matter.
Fibre optics is the fastest medium of transmitting information over long distances, providing homes and businesses with affordable internet, telecommunication, and television services.
South Sudan intends to stop the high dependency of using fo
reign satellites for telecommunication which made the communication tariff the highest in the region.
“The team [Ethio-telecom] is here to explore the possibility of the market in South Sudan and to see where we can share what we are encouraging and requesting to improve our communication system and get affordable connectivity for our country,” said Adok as the Ethiopian delegation visits Juba.
“The only way we can do it is to invite the big players to help us and develop to bring more capacity and push down the cost of the connectivity as it is today.
“We are calling on our neighbors to link us with marine cable and the area we are targeting to pilot our concept is through the Eastern border of our country from Pagak to Nasir up to Malakal and the oil field especially in this dry season.”
For her part, the manager of Ethiopia’s telecom operator, Ethio Telecom, Frehiwot Tamru, says expanding and managing telecom infrastructure and using optical fiber cable will make prices of telecom services affordable.