TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE SHARING AND COLLOCATION DIRECTIVE WHEREAS it is essential to maximize the use of network infrastructure including, but not limited to, network capacity and capabilities, base station sites, backbone, towers and reduce duplication of investment for network facilities and cost for network deployment; UNDERSTANDING the requirement to formulate a legal framework that governs Access Service Agreements between Telecommunications Operators and service providers; RECOGNIZING the importance of protecting the environment by reducing the proliferation of towers and facility installations so that the aesthetic of the country’s landscape is not adversely affected or impacted; CONVINCED of the need to enhance competition amongst Telecommunications Operators in a cooperative environment; NOW, THERFORE, the Authority hereby issues this Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing and Collocation Directive in accordance with Ethiopian Communication Service Proclamation No.1148/2019, Articles 6(2), 44(5), 44(10) and 54(2). PART ONE GENERAL 1. Short Title This Directive shall be referred to as the “Telecommunications Infrastructure Sharing and Collocation Directive No. 793/2021.” 2. Definitions In this Directive, unless the context otherwise requires: 1) “Access Agreement” means an agreement made between a Telecommunications Operator or Infrastructure Provider for the provision of infrastructure sharing and/or collocation space. 2) “Access Provider” means a Telecommunications Operator or Telecommunications Service provider or Infrastructure Provider that provides infrastructure sharing and/or collocation space services to a Telecommunications Operator or Telecommunications Service provider. 3) “Access Seeker” means a Telecommunications Operator or Telecommunications Service provider seeking to acquire, or acquiring, Access Services from an Access Provider. 4) “Access Services” means services provided by one Telecommunications Operator or Telecommunications Service provider or Infrastructure Provider to another, for infrastructure sharing and/or collocation purposes. 5) “Active Infrastructure” means the elements or components on the active layer of a Telecommunications Network, including, but not limited to, antennas, switches, servers, databases, radio access nodes, transmission equipment, and national roaming. 6) “Authority” means the Ethiopian Communications Authority established under the Communications Service Proclamation No. 1148/2019. 1