Ethio telecom customers reach 80 million

-Joins ZTE to expand access to smartphones

ADDIS ABABA- Ethio telecom announced that the number of its customers has reached 80 million, thanks to the ongoing efforts to advance financial inclusion and support national development.

Speaking at the launch event for ZTE Corporation’s latest innovative feature, the Nubia Focus Pro 5G launching event, Ethio telecom’s Chief Marketing Officer, Seid Arega, said that the state-owned telecom service provider has installed 4G mobile networks in 500 towns across Ethiopia and reached 80 million customers.

He added that its mobile money service, Telebirr, has garnered 51 million subscribers, making the company one of the leading operators in Africa. With the current smartphone penetration rate of 42%, Ethio telecom is focused on expanding access to smartphones to advance financial inclusion.

He further stated that Ethio telecom is establishing a strategic partnership with ZTE Corporation. This collaboration aims to advance digital inclusion, increase smartphone penetration, and expand 5G network coverage in Ethiopia, ultimately contributing to the country’s development.

Ethio telecom has partnered with ZTE to increase smartphone availability across Ethiopia and the discussions are underway to establish phone assembly in Ethiopia, facilitating technology transfer and offering more affordable devices, he indicated.

ZTE Ethiopia’s CEO, Vivian Chen, stated that this strategic partnership with Ethio Telecom will make the devices accessible to the Ethiopian market, contributing to the country’s economic and social development. She emphasized that it will revolutionize the local consumer landscape, encourage wider smartphone adoption, and enhance convenience.

She highlighted that ZTE’s establishment of a local assembly factory has created 1,000 jobs in Ethiopia. The new device introduces innovative features, including water resistance, and a new business model featuring an installment payment plan, essentially changing the consumer experience.

“This installment plan, introduced in collaboration with Ethio Telecom, will provide easier access to smartphones for consumers,” Chen said.

ZTE’s investment in Ethiopia has exceeded 50 million USD over the past 20 years, contributing to social development. The company’s two-decade presence in the Ethiopian market has been marked by numerous social development initiatives, she said.

These investments not only provide advanced technology to consumers but also deliver tangible benefits to local communities, driving social progress, the CEO concluded.

At the event, ZTE Corporation launched its latest innovative feature, the Nubia Focus Pro 5G smartphones in Ethiopia.

BY MISGANAW ASNAKE

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2025

 

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