EVN (September 12) — Ethio Telecom, the telecommunications provider serving more than 70 million subscribers, has officially rolled out commercial 5G services in Ethiopia. The service was recently inaugurated in the capital, Addis Ababa.
The telecom company disclosed that it has initiated 5G availability through 145 sites strategically deployed across Addis Ababa. This development follows pre-commercial 5G mobile broadband trials conducted in the previous year.
Ethio Telecom has expressed its readiness to offer a range of 5G services to its customers, including unlimited 5G data, 5G To The Home connectivity, and various 5G mobile packages.
Mobile 5G tariffs, as outlined on the company’s website, commence at a monthly rate of US$17, providing users with access to up to 150GB of data.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that UAE-based e& and France’s Orange were exploring the possibility of acquiring a 45 percent stake in the state-owned telecommunications provider.
Ethiopia’s government has been actively seeking to divest a portion of its ownership in Ethio Telecom for several years. In November of the previous year, bids were invited for the stake sale. Prior to Kenya-based Safaricom’s launch in October, Ethio Telecom had been the sole operator in the Ethiopian market.
The Ethiopian government’s objective is to introduce a third telecommunications provider into the market, and earlier this month, a tender was launched for a second private mobile telecommunications license. Although MTN Group had been anticipated to enter the market, the operator withdrew its bid for a license in 2021 after it was rejected.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regards Ethiopia’s telecommunications industry as a significant asset for the country’s economy, given the nation’s population of over 120 million.
