The public telecommunications company Ethio Telecom announced on Saturday January 27 that it had launched its fifth generation (5G) mobile services in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia’s second largest city in terms of population. The company promises its subscribers in this eastern Ethiopian city speeds of up to 10 Gbps, low latency and massive communication capacity.
In Dire Dawa, Ethio Telecom’s 5G network is currently available in seven specific areas. Ultra-broadband offers available include unlimited data plans, a variety of mobile plans as well as 5G at home. However, subscribers must have mobile devices and handsets compatible with the technology to avail the services.
Ethio Telecom continues the gradual expansion of its 5G network which it officially launched in Addis Ababa in September 2023, about a year after launching a pre-commercial phase in the capital and Adama. Dire Dawa becomes the fourth city in the country to benefit from the company’s ultra-broadband services after Addis Ababa, Adama and Jigjiga.
The expansion of the 5G network should also enable the incumbent operator to bring the latest generation of mobile technology to millions more people and meet their demand for high-speed connectivity. This will allow the company to strengthen its leadership position in the Ethiopian telecoms market and increase its revenues as competition solidifies.
As a reminder, Ethio Telecom had 74.6 million customers, including 36.4 million Internet users at the end of the first half of the 2023/2024 financial year ended December 31, 2023. During the half-year, the state-owned company generated revenues of 42.86 billion birr (755.3 million USD) and a net profit of 11 billion birr.
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