The fifth generation network (5G) characterized by the fastest speed (up to10 Gbs), low latency (less than 1 ms) and massive communication capability (up to 1 Million connections within 1 km2), can unlock blazing fast speeds in more places, real-time responses and massive connectivity, according to Ethio Telecom. With such high speeds, superior reliability and negligible latency, 5G will impact industries such as mission critical services requiring real time decisions, manufacturing plants, self-driving vehicles and other smart technologies making them all a reality.
The successor of the 4G network, 5G networks can provide data speeds at least 20 times faster than 4G and are seen as important for emerging technologies enabling communication and interconnectivity between smart devices. The 5G network is developing at fastest rate in the world and telecom operators are expanding the services for their customers.
Continuing its efforts in enhancing and modernizing telecom services in Ethiopia, the giant telecom operator in Ethiopia-Ethio Telecom, announced the launching of pre-commercial trial 5G network services on May 2022 in Addis Ababa and then in Adama City for the first time. After over a year successful pre-commercial deployment of the 5G service in Addis Ababa, on the eve of the 2016 Ethiopian New Year, Ethio Telecom officially switched the 5G commercial network in Addis Ababa on September 09/2023.
Introduced in 2019, 5G network have over 1.3 billion connections in 110 countries globally. Now, 254 different telecom operators are providing the 5G network in the 110 markets for their customers. At the end of 2023, the 5G connections are expected to grow from 1.3 billion to 1.5 billion subscribers. And by 2025, the 5G connections are projected to grow to 2.5 billion users and the number of countries deploying 5G network to increase in to 140.
In Africa, 16 different countries deploy 5G networks and currently a total of more than 11.2 million customers are utilizing 5G network in Africa. This number is projected to grow into 115 million by the end of 2026, according to Ethio Telecom CEO. Considering the development of latest technologies, as part of its endeavors to expand telecom services and realizing the government’s digital transformation in Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom has continued advancing its services. As part of its efforts, the company has officially launched the 5G commercial network in Addis Ababa. It is also is expected to expand to different parts of the country in the coming months.
Ethio Telecom expands 3G and 4G networks throughout the nation effectively. For the past three years, Ethio Telecom extensively worked on expanding 4G network into different parts of the country. Currently, according to Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot, from the total internet customers in Ethiopia 66 % internet users are using the 4G network while the rest 34 % are utilizing the 3G network. Frehiwot added that, Ethio Telecom has continued expanding the 4G network to reach all areas.
Parallel to expanding the 4G network, Ethio Telecom switched the 5G mobile network service in Addis Ababa to upgrade the network in the capital to the latest one after over a year pilot program. During the pilot 5G launching program on May 2022, Ethio Telecom Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frehiwot Tamru said that after the end of the pilot program, the service will first be available in the capital Addis Ababa, before eventually spreading to other parts of the country.
Keeping the promise, Ethio Telecom switched the 5G commercial connections in 145 sites of Addis Ababa this week. The 5G service is expected to provide customers with best-in-class solutions to improve their experience and allow enterprise customers to boost productivity and enhance operational efficiency.
During the official 5G commercial network launching ceremony, Frehiwot said that Ethio Telecom is upgrading services and deploying latest technologies to provide advanced services for its customers. “Today, we officially launched the 5G commercial service in 145 different sites in Addis Ababa as a gift of the Ethiopian New Year and we will work to expand the service to other parts of Ethiopia next,” she stated.
According to the CEO, this groundbreaking technology promises to transform business activities in the capital. Launching and expanding 5G network is among the annual business plan of the telecom company. As to her, the demand of data and internet service is growing in Addis Ababa and in other parts of the country and considering the growing demand; Ethio Telecom is striving to meet the customers demand with continuous upgrading of its services and by introducing latest technological advancements. “The launching of the 5G commercial network is among Ethio Telecom’s initiatives to meet its customer’s demands in the capital and the advanced network would facilitate business activities,” she added.
As to the CEO, the 5G service has tremendous significance for smart home, health services, hospital management, smart agriculture, smart education, smart industry/mining, manufacturing, smart airports and travel services, smart transportation and logistics, digital shopping, broadcasting and entertainment, as well as cloud-based 5G gaming.
To utilize the 5G services, 5G-supporting mobile devices and handsets are required. Customers have to own 5G-supporting devices to utilize the 5G network. According to Frehiwot in addition to providing the 5G services, the company is working to expand the 5G-supporting mobile devices. Ethio Telecom is selling mobile devices which support 5G networks.
The CEO stated that currently from the total 81.8 million connected devices, 42 % is smart phones. And at this time, according to the connected devices, over 630 thousand customers have mobile devices that can afford 5G network.
The launch is part of the telcom’s new annual business plan that aims to expand networks amid growing demand for data and internet services. The number of its data and internet subscribers is projected to grow by 21% to 41.17 million this year from 33.9 million.
“In our annual business plan, we announced to expand 4G network and to launch 5G networks. As part of our plan and keeping our promise, we launched the 5G network in 145 sites in the capital in the new year eve,” Frehiwot stated. “Now those customers with 5G network enable devices can use the 5G network in the capital,” she stated.
According to the company, the data traffic is growing at high rate. Currently, the daily average data traffic is 2,087 GB. “The daily average data traffic five years ago was only 53 GB and currently it exceeds 2,000 GB per day. Anyone can simply understand the growth,” she stated.
According to the company, Ethio Telecom is working to realize the country’s digital transformation agenda by deploying the latest technologies and providing digital solutions to positively impact the day-to-day life and business activities of its customers across Ethiopia.
Ethio Telecom has been a pioneer telecom service provider in Africa, serving the nation since 1894. The company has continuously introduced the latest technologies to support Ethiopia’s socio-economic development, playing an enabling role in the overall progress of the nation. With its “beyond connectivity” motto, the company is playing a vital role in accelerating the realization of Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy and the new network would facilitate online services and introduce smart activities.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
The Ethiopian Herald September 15/2023
