BY HIZKEL HAILU
Notably, Ethiopia has been undertaking different reform activities in order to improve the life of its citizens during the last three years despite different challenges. The state-owned operator ethio-telecom is amongst the companies that are supporting the objective of the reformist government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD).
Owing to this fact the giant company is looking forward to applying different new technologies that are of paramount importance to create cashless society coupled with spurring the national economic growth. In addition to launching –Tele Birr- a reliable, inclusive and easy transaction financial service, the company is also launching a 4G LTE advanced service in various parts of the country.
Addressing the company’s last Ethiopian fiscal year achievements recently, Company’s CEO Frehiwot Tamiru stated it has gained annual revenue worth 56.5 billion Birr. As to her, it has managed to access more than 6.5 million customers and transaction value of 357 million Birr in the mobile payment system, Tele Birr, in a two-month operation due to rapid penetration rate and advancement of telecom services.
According to her, the telecom offered 34 new and 28 revamped local and international products and services. Mobile voice accounts for 47.5 percent of the total revenue while Data and internet contributes 27 percent. Besides, the total subscribers have now reached 56.2 million achieving 108 percent of the subscriber base target. Hence, the company is reaching 95 percent of Ethiopians and covering 85.4 percent of the country.
The CEO further elucidated that Ethio telecom has planned to facilitate 40 to 50 percent of the nation’s total transactions via Tele Birr and the platform is helpful to boost Ethiopia’s e-commerce penetration. The service is customer-friendly in availing service in five languages, she noted.
Underscoring that telecom has been capitalizing on creating cash less society via well expanding the use of Tele Birr in different parts of the nation as standardization of payment mechanisms on the Internet is essential to the success of running business, the Company CEO said the world has now been advancing towards full and efficient digital technology utilization, and our country is also in a passion to well enjoy digitalizing.
The company continues expanding LTE advanced service, which enables citizens to use internet service as promptly as possible, which aims at swiftly running socio-economic activities and easing doing business, said Firehiwot.
Mentioning the company has been expanding its 4G advanced technology service at different cities of Oromia, Amhara, Afar, Harari and other regions in addition to Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa City Administrations. She said the company has endeavored to expand the service to all parts of the country.
The company has run a number of activities to help the nation will carry out a range of social, economic and even political activities. As to her, Tele Birr has successfully integrated with mobile money platform and provided subscribers with a convenience to purchase from the comfort of their mobile devices anywhere and anytime.
“Furthermore, Tele Birr menu increases the number of payments, purchases and transactions that can be carried out from the phone which we believe is what customers are looking for in a mobile financial platform, and Tele Birr is protected by secure system, trusted and dependable operator (no theft, make transactions with no cash at hand),” she noted.
Businesses offering domestic and international services must have assurance that payment will be received, that it is secure and that it is valid. Addressing security issues is crucial to the acceptance of online payment standards, consumers and merchants must be able to trust that their information is kept intact and remains secure during transmission.
Adding to the point, she explained that the most popular application of Tele Birr is that instead of getting a paycheck and putting it into a bank account, the money is deposited to an account electronically. Tele Birr is considered to be a safe, reliable, and convenient way to conduct business, she said.
Noting Ethio telecom’s 127- year public service under various names and structures, the CEO highlighted the operator has been formulating a three-year strategic plan with a view to modernizing services and enhancing customer’s experience.
The CEO further stated that the internet service advancement contributes to modernize economic activities in the regions thereby helping businesses to withstand the impact of COVID-19. Also, the 4G service would have a paramount importance to ease transactions and enhance a financial inclusion in the areas of accessibility, she remarked.
In her remark at the launching ceremony of 4G Advanced technology held in Gondar town of Amhara State recently, Frehiwot said the growing telecom penetration is significant to the effectiveness of the newly-launched mobile finance systems notably Tele Birr.
The reliability and high-speed features of the 4G LTE advanced service will also enhance experiences of the 361,000 customers in the region. In the region, 72,000 customers are said to have been carrying smart phones that are capable of operating the 4G LTE advanced service.
Noting 4G advanced telecom service is 14 times faster than the existing 3G internet connectivity, Frehiwot further stated that the internet service advancement contributes to modernize economic activities in addition to easing transactions and enhancing financial inclusion in the area.
Envisioning joining the digital era, ethio telecom has prepared a new strategy dubbed BRIDGE for the years 2020-2023. Accordingly, a plan is set to channel 40 to 50 percent of the national financial transaction to Tele Birr.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, Gondar City Mayor, Molla Melkamu said that the advanced technology is of paramount importance for encouraging new investment and business ventures in the region. Also, the technology would have a paramount importance for the tourism sector.
Additionally, he underlined that this advanced technology is also significant to create job opportunity for youths. Less internet quality was among the challenges that have been countering entrepreneurs who were engaging in internet café services in the city.
Applauding the operator’s huge engagement to enhance customer’s experience, the Mayor called for the expansion of the advanced service in other towns namely Debark and Metema.
On her short interview with The Ethiopian Herald recently, RIDE Passenger ET CEO, Samrawit Fikru for her part said a well authenticated and reliable tech service would help facilitate their services.
Samrawit also applauded the Ethio Telecom’s effort to transform the financial and other related service sectors. As to her, technologically advanced banks and secured financial services have massive contribution to the effort geared towards transforming the economy of a given country.
Illustrating that the number of fixed Broadband users have jumped by 465 percent (from 66,200 to 374,000) apart from rising of fixed Broadband users, she said the rise of fixed Broadband users has contributed share for the growth of Ethiopia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The company also disclosed it has generated 166.5 million USD from international business as it curbs telecom fraud by employing technical solutions and collaborating with international business partners. Besides, this year’s overall performance has shown a 66.7 percent increment compared to the previous year’s performance given the increment of subscribers, it was learnt.
Ethio telecom set a plan to cover 103 cities across the country with 4G LTE service in the current fiscal year and has so far reached 67. Therefore, it is tremendously significant to create digitalized society and stimulating the economy, the CEO noted.
Pointing out that rapid infrastructural development and services as well as the LTE and 4G network expansion are among the key activities the telecom accomplished to enhance customer experience and satisfaction, the CEO further asserted the operator has been working to enable the country join world countries with 5G internet service by 2022.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD JULY 27/2021
