5G on the horizon as Central North Region receives 4G LTE advanced

Ethio telecom announced that it has the necessary preparation to start deploying 5G networks in the country with in short period of time before 2022 which was planned at the beginning of the current budget year.
“Ethio telecom is undergoing network infrastructure and system enhancements to pilot 5G networks soon and we’ve made some of our networks ready for 5G,” said the CEO, Firehiwot Tamiru speaking at the launching of 4G LTE Advanced network in Debre Berhan.
Following its strategic plan to expand 4G LTE service in various cities of the country where there is high data usage, Ethio telecom has launched 4G LTE Advanced mobile internet service on 23 September 2021 in the Central North Region in the towns of Debre Berhan, Fiche, Shewa Robit, Sululta, Sheno, Sendafa, Gerba Guracha and Legetafo towns where high mobile data traffic has been observed.
Ethio telecom has so far expanded its 4G LTE service in 86 towns of 15 regions across the country and in Addis Ababa. Before the end of the year, Ethio Telecom is planning to reach out additional 106 towns with its advanced network.
The CEO highlighted that Ethio telecom has reformulated its three year plan with view to modernize services and enhance customer’s experience.
So far 69 million devices are connected to the network, 42 percent of them are smart phones which are capable to use advanced 4G, and in the Central North Region 34 percent of the whole customers have 4G enabled devices.
“Among the major strategic initiative, it is planning and accordingly, we will be launching similar services in other parts of the country, for which preparation works are underway,” said the CEO.
Beside its network expansion, Ethio telecom has also registered more than 9 million customers with its newly launched mobile money system, Telebirr. The system which has accounted about 4 months is operating certain new services payments including DSTV Ethiopia, websprix, Addis Ababa city traffics management agency, Zmall and others including contributions for the Ethiopian renaissance dam . The system has integrated its services with 8 banks including the commercial bank as well expecting to start international remittance service soon.