Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia, which received an operating license in Ethiopia in May 2021, has begun work on telecom expansions in the national information and communication technology (ICT) park, including site selections for 5G trail towers.
Safaricom-Ethiopia is preparing to commence its commercial operations in the next months, with plans to deliver 4G and 5G internet services. According to reports, the company plans to launch a low-orbit satellite by 2023 to give statewide 4G connectivity.
Safaricom is working to develop towers, fiber extensions, broadband connections, and other infrastructure within the ICT park as part of its network expansion. “We’re pressing them to create a permanent office in the park and operate as our strategic partners,” said Surafel Shimels, General Manager of ICT Park, adding, “They’ve visited the park and seen all of the choices to invest in, and we expect positive feedback in this regard.”
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Safaricom has completed its site selection and is preparing to install its 5G network towers in the park, according to him.
Safaricom Ethiopia, a joint venture between Safaricom, Sumitomo Corporation, CDC Group, and Vodacom, has received an operational license from the Ethiopian government to operate as a second telecom operator after the state-owned Ethio Telecom. To obtain the license, it had to pay the government USD 850 million and vow to invest up to USD 8.5 billion over the next decade.
The partnership is now hiring people in preparation for the business’s operational launch, which will be known as Safaricom Ethiopia. This confirms Safaricom’s ambitions, which were previously known when it announced plans to lease an office.
Safaricom hired eight middle-level management professionals for its Ethiopian business before the end of last year in order to establish a pool of talent. The consortium is working to lease and occupy an office building in Addis Ababa by the beginning of this year as a platform for its operations in Ethiopia. When it begins commercial operations, the company intends to utilize the same 07 mobile number prefix it has in Kenya.
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For its infrastructure expansion in Ethiopia, the private telecommunications operator is collaborating with global telecom giant Nokia and Chinese global telecom giant Huawei.
Ethio telcom is also constructing a headquarters in the park. In related news, Ethio telcom is preparing to launch its 5G network for the first time in the country, making Ethiopia the first African country to do so.
5G is expected to be deployed to deal with the increasing volume of data transmission in the country’s dense metropolitan networks, and will be updated to the existing 4G infrastructure to help meet user demand while addressing data traffic.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
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