Ethio telecom to install 5 mln. mobile network
- Involves in new businesses
ADDIS ABABA – Ethio telecom will install five million additional mobile network capacities in Addis Ababa and various regions of the country.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru said the company has been taking various swift measures to expand network coverage and improve the quality of its services.
The networks will be fitted with alternative power solutions to curb service interruptions, according to her.
The company’s activities, when coming to fruition, will raise the telecom penetration to 50.5 percent, she said.
Hence, the Company targets to increase the total number of subscribers by 16 percent to 50.46 million, she said. “Our plan is to upscale mobile phone subscribers by 15 percent to 48.32 million, Data and Internet users by 29 percent to 28.7 million, and fixed broadband subscribers by 166 percent.”
To increase the accessibility of its services, 73 new shops will be established which brings total shops to 438. An additional 75,000 partner distributors and retailers will also be engaged, which brings the number of total partners on a national scale to 267.
Also, she stressed that Ethio telecom targets generating 45.42 billion Birr revenue by getting itself involved in new business streams as well as shifting revenue sources from traditional to value-added services.
The new services have brought a 5 percent increment in the revenue share of the company.
The other revenue sources are 53 percent from mobile voice, 33 percent from data and internet and 9 percent from International Business.
“We are heading in the direction. A case in point is during the first half year business performance, a wide spectrum of projects was finalized which enabled the telecom service provider to accommodate additional 759,741 3G customers and 170,737 2G mobile customers.”
“Preparation for 4G network expansion in international get way capacity has been upgraded by more than 71% to enhance customer experience and to accommodate growing data usage demand,” she added.
During the first half budget year, (July 01-December 31, 2019) our subscribers reached 45.6 million which is 99 percent of the target-registering a 10.9 percent increment from the previous year’s similar period.
According to the CEO, mobile voice subscribers reached 44.03 million, Data and internet users 22.74 million and fixed services 1.01 million, which resulted in 45.4 percent teledensity.
The Ethiopian Harald January 24/2020
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
