Our core businesses are network infrastructure and data center development. We cater our services to the following industries: telecom, e-government, banking, education, security, e-commerce, fintech, network and ICT management.

1. Accelerating Digital Businesses
By Senait Feseha - 5 July 2021
Meried Bekele is the founder of IE Network Solutions, one of the leading privately
owned network infrastructure and data center service providers in Ethiopia. With
more than 100 projects to date, a 100,000,000 Birr annual revenue and 12 years of
experience, his company has been accompanying businesses, institutions and
organizations to achieve digital transformations. In an interview with Senait Feseha
of Detail Ethiopia, Meried Bekele highlighted the company's role in accelerating
digital businesses, and gave valuable insights into the importance of technology
learning to empower the youth within the ICT industry. He spoke about his
professional journey, his stance about privatization of telecom, and its potential in
the ICT sector.
First of all, can you explain IE Network Solutions' scope of business and the services it
provides to its clients?
Established in December, 2008, IE Network Solutions is a fully Ethiopian owned company, which
focuses on value maximization and is a service oriented solution provider. It specializes in enterprise
network services , business automation intelligence, smart infrastructure and cloud services. Our
services support businesses from consultancy to design, delivery and beyond. We help businesses
and establishments succeed in the digital age.
What are the core business interests of your company?
Our core businesses are network infrastructure and data center development. We cater our services
to the following industries: telecom, e-government, banking, education, security, e-commerce,
fintech, network and ICT management.
Can you tell us more about your career and background within the industry and
inspirations to start your own business?
My personal background is in Electrical and Computer Engineering, I graduated from Mekelle
University. After which I started working at a private company as a network engineer. Then I worked
as a consultant on Ethio Telecom's national backbone network development project and next
generation network development (NGN), which provided fiber and IP networks; encompassing
mobile networks at a national level. I started this company during the last stages of the NGN project,
while also working on my Masters in Business Administration.
Based on my experience, I saw a niche market outside of telecom as a network solutions provider for
banks, universities, international institutions, and government companies. For these companies, I
aimed to provide IT infrastructure , network data center, and servers.
At the beginning, IE only provided consultation and design services, but as the company grew and
developed its capacity, we went on to provide full system integration under one roof.
My extracurricular activities have impacted my career by allowing me to exercise leadership and
entrepreneurship while I was still in school. I was the president and played a role in establishing the
electrical engineering tech club at the university. In the tech club, we had the chance to practice and
work on developing animations and network systems, we also took part in developing the university's

2. first website. In my free time, I participated in summer internships, focusing on my field and
received certifications. These activities, I believe, have shaped my career.
What are IE Network Solutions' important milestones?
The first and biggest milestone for IE was when the company advanced from only providing design
and consultancy services to undertaking the delivery of the project in full; broadening our business
capacity through importing hardware and fully integrating systems.
The second would be being able to scale the business without any other external investor. Back then,
as a startup, we were limited to importing a few hardware because we had financial limitations and
couldn't undertake bigger projects. But now, considering the country's scale, it is the biggest
privately owned network business, with a capacity to take on projects with over ETB 100,000,000 in
revenue.
Third, we were one of the five Ethiopian companies to be selected to take part in Stanford
University's 2019 prestigious seed program.
The program allowed IE to clearly set and define our long term goals, we were able to structure our
ideas and resources of our 2024 Strategic plan, a five year goal. Our long term goals included
becoming an internet based telecom provider for the country, and to provide data center services for
East Africa. IE began a journey towards its ambitious goal of becoming a multi billion Birr company,
and I consider that beginning as a huge milestone.
And finally, we have designed and set up a smart building system for our company, it is the first of
its kind on a private sector level. A tech oriented design with digital IDs, one card system detection,
attendance screens, and interconnected systems and a lot of developed softwares.
Can you give us a snapshot of IE's work environment? How many employees do you
have and how would your employees describe you?
Today, we have around 110 employees, most of them from an engineering, computer science and IT
background. We have a very hard working environment where commitment and focus are at the core
and we go the extra mile to deliver quality work and that is what our clients know us for. Apart from
that, my employees think that I can get a bit pushy and demanding, but that comes from striving for
perfection.
Digital transformation has gained ground due to the covid- 19 pandemic. How did IE
capitalize on it and how important is it for businesses to embrace digital
transformation?
Today, businesses require new practices to stay competitive in these hard times. Companies have
started to digitize to some extent to serve their employees with remote work or serve customers that
face mobility restrictions due to the pandemic. Fortunately, the infrastructure that was needed to
offer these services were already available to us. We didn't struggle; we also supported some
businesses and ensured their operational continuity throughout the lockdown as they moved online.
What is IE's level of competency against other East African and African companies in
the same sector?
We are currently functioning only in Ethiopia. Usually there is an assumption that local companies
are not competent enough to compete in this industry; and often only foreign companies bid to enter

3. in this kind of big projects. We at IE have the capacity to bid and win these international bids, having
won competitions where big Indian, Egyptian and Kenyan companies have participated. This is
because we have the capacity, experience and the leadership qualities, in addition to the technical
ability and providing a winning price. Generally some Ethiopian companies are competent to
undertake major projects in many other sectors as well, it's just a matter of applying a rigorous
marketing strategy.
What growth opportunity and potentials do you see in the country within your sector?
The IT industry in Ethiopia has a huge untapped potential. The fact that there was only one telecom
service provider was a huge drawback for the country. There is talk that the second telecom service
provider will start operating in 2022. Telecom is the backbone to technological advancement and
good internet connectivity is the reason why some countries achieve speedy economic growth. The
best part about telecom liberation, I think is competition driven quality. As a result of this liberation
a lot of sectors will grow and our daily lives will be impacted.
The change will affect transportation, education, agriculture, medicine and fill the gaps in
government services. It will enhance the way the financial sector works and transform how banks
and payment services operate. Once we start thinking outside the box, there are limitless
possibilities. There will be a surge of new businesses and startups, increasing employments
opportunities.
What are the challenges new businesses and startups face in this sector?
Anyone can create a product but with out the marketing, management and leadership know-how, the
startup is likely to fail.
In our country, there are a lot of young university graduates who are developing new software
applications and other tech products, but most don't have the entrepreneurial skills to lead, market
and grow the company. That's why we need the concept of 'business school' here.
I have seen this from my own experience. I am an electrical and computer engineer by education, but
when I started my own business, that alone would not have made me competent. The first thing I did
was take an online Masters of Business Administration program as I was starting my own company.
That was the most important step I took that led towards today's success. If I hadn't taken that
route, I am sure I would have been self employed, maybe with four or five employees, but IE
wouldn't have been scaled up and be what it is today.