February 2nd, 2021 in Business. Closed Ethiopia's telecoms industry is considered the big prize in a push to liberalize the economy because of the huge size of the market, which serves more than 100 million people. (Photo: Ethio Telecom) Reuters Ethiopia has extended the deadline for telecom firms to bid for new operating licenses by a month to April 5, the sector regulator said on Monday, citing requests from interested companies. The Horn of Africa nation’s telecoms industry is considered the big prize in a push to liberalize the economy because of the huge size of the market, which serves more than 100 million people.