The largest wireless carriers operating in Africa are starting to form partnerships ahead of making offers for new licences to be awarded by Ethiopia, which is opening its telecommunications industry to international companies.

The UK carrier has teamed up with its South African unit Vodacom Group and Nairobi-based affiliate Safaricom, according to the Kenyan company’s chief financial officer, Sateesh Kamath.

Ethiopia announced the break-up of its state monopoly shortly after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power two years ago

Kamath declined to comment on potential additional partners to the Vodafone-led alliance.

Ethiopia announced the break-up of its state monopoly shortly after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power two years ago, part of a broader privatisation plan that also includes the sugar and rail industries, among others.

“It is very encouraging for us to see several companies pulling together resources that will be required to acquire these valuable spectrum licences,” Brook Taye, adviser to Ethiopia’s finance ministry, said in an interview.