Ethio Telecom, the public telecommunications company, launched its 5G mobile services in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia's second-largest city by population.
The company pledges high-speed connectivity with speeds of up to 10 Gbps, low latency, and substantial communication capacity for subscribers in this eastern Ethiopian city.
Currently, Ethio Telecom's 5G network in Dire Dawa is accessible in seven specific areas, offering ultra-broadband services such as unlimited data plans, various mobile plans, and 5G at home. However, subscribers must possess mobile devices compatible with 5G technology to avail themselves of these services.
This expansion follows the official launch of Ethio Telecom's 5G network in Addis Ababa in September 2023, approximately a year after the commencement of a pre-commercial phase in the capital and Adama. Dire Dawa now becomes the fourth city in Ethiopia to benefit from the company's ultra-broadband services, joining Addis Ababa, Adama, and Jigjiga.
The gradual expansion of the 5G network is anticipated to bring the latest mobile technology to a larger population, meeting the growing demand for high-speed connectivity. This strategic move aims to strengthen Ethio Telecom's leadership position in the Ethiopian telecom market, fostering increased revenues as competition in the sector intensifies.
As of the end of the first half of the 2023/2024 financial year on December 31, 2023, Ethio Telecom reported 74.6 million customers, including 36.4 million internet users. During this period, the state-owned company achieved revenues of 42.86 billion birr (755.3 million USD) and a net profit of 11 billion birr.
