FROM PILLAR TO POST
BEST PRACTICES FOR NEW TELECOM ENTRANTS
Ethiopia , one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa , is becoming a promising destination for telecom firms looking to expand their business operations . With a population of over 100 million and a growing demand for telecommunications services , the country is attracting an increasing number of new entrants into its telecom industry .
However , entering a new market is never easy , especially in a highly competitive sector like telecommunications .
Telecom firms need to understand the unique challenges and opportunities of the Ethiopian market and adjust their strategies accordingly . It is important to develop products and services tailored to the local market needs and preferences .
Entering strategic partnerships with local companies can help new entrants to navigate the complex regulatory environment and overcome the challenges of doing business in a new market . Partnering with local firms can also provide access to local networks , knowledge , and resources , which can be invaluable for building a strong market position .
Building a robust telecom infrastructure is an expensive undertaking , and it takes a long time , so a strategy that new entrants and existing players can use is to create a consortium that will build and maintain the telecom infrastructure for all players .
Telecom firms should prioritise hiring and training local talent to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to provide excellent customer service and support . Investing in employee training and development will also help to retain top talent and build a strong and motivated workforce .
means issuers need to set up robust payment processing systems which allow smooth and secure communication of data between issuers , merchants and acquirers .
IT announcements
In May , last year , Tetra Tech , provider of highend consulting and engineering services , announced that the US Agency for International Development , Ethiopia Mission has awarded the company a US $ 48 million , single-award contract to develop a comprehensive learning platform that will apply predictive analytics to monitoring data to inform programming decisions .
Under the five-year contract , Tetra Tech ’ s data scientists will apply various research modelling methods to promote innovative data collection , analysis , and interpretation through the learning platform . Tetra Tech will integrate new and existing data sets into the platform to enable USAID and its stakeholders to make prompt evidence-based decisions and improve program outcomes through adaptive management .
In March last year , Zemen Bank , a commercial bank based in Addis Ababa , wanted to offer easy online payments to its customers without compromising on security . The bank is known for its service excellence , innovation and pioneering new products and adopting new services . They engaged with Netcetera , to allow them to take off in the African payments market and offer customers a seamless online payment experience .
Netcetera ’ s Access Control Server allows Zemen to authenticate cardholders online with multifactor authentication and prevent fraudulent payments . Together they worked to onboard customer cards and are now enabling Zemen Bank customers to make simple , secure e-commerce transactions with all payment card schemes , while ensuring the highest level of security for financial data . ACS functionality will be available to Zemen Bank customers in March . �
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