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Ethiopians living in Addis Ababa can now enjoy super-fast internet speeds after the state-owned Ethio Telecom launched 5G mobile phone networks in the capital.
This launch comes in the wake of Safaricom’s expected rollout of operations in the Horn of Africa nation. The Kenyan telco together with a consortium of other international operators won a bid to enter the lucrative market of 112 million people.
Ethio Telecom is betting on the roll-out of 5G networks in the capital will give it an edge over the Safaricom-led consortium. They plan to to introduce 150 5G sites in and outside the capital in the coming year.
The move gives residents in selected places in Addis Ababa the chance to get 5G mobile networks on their mobile phones with data speed 20 times faster than their current 4G networks.
The expansion of the network will however be dependent on “the readiness of the players in the ecosystem”, including the availability of 5G enabled devices and smartphones, the company said in a statement.
The rollout is backed up by technology from Chinese telecom giant Huwawei who are supplying the necessary equipment for the services.
Ethiopia had closed its doors for international telecom providers until it introduced measures to liberalise the sector by selling a service licence last year to a consortium led by Safaricom.
