Ethio Telecom selects Ericsson to transform its telecom network in Ethiopia

Global telecoms equipment gear manufacturer Ericsson has signed a framework agreement on 2G/3G mobile communication equipment and related services - such as design, planning, deployment, tuning, and optimization - with Ethio Telecom.

The newly signed framework agreement will allow Ethio Telecom to further improve the capacity and performance of its 2G/3G network. This will consequently ensure improved quality of network coverage, richer and more innovative mobile communication services to subscribers in southern Ethiopia.

The agreement with Ericsson will be used for the procurement of Ericsson products and services and aims to transform the current network and add additional capacity to meet the country's need to bring connectivity to more than 60 million subscribers nationwide.

Andualem Admassie, CEO, Ethio Telecom, says: "Ethio Telecom sees this agreement with Ericsson as an important step towards fulfilling the country's need for communication under the Telecom Expansion Plan. We believe in a long-term partnership with Ericsson."

Rafiah Ibrahim, Head of Region Middle East and North East Africa at Ericsson, says: "Ethiopia's 3G market is rapidly growing, driven by Ethiopian's high demand on connectivity. Ericsson is devoted to support the development of Ethiopia's telecom industry, leveraging our global expertise and technology leadership. Today's signing of the framework agreement will further solidify our partnership with Ethio Telecom as we will work together to ensure rewarding new user experience for Ethiopian consumers in the new connectivity era and we are fully confident that we will together achieve this objective."

The signing was hosted by H.E Dr Debretsion, Minister of Telecommunications in Ethiopia, and was attended by key representatives from Ethio Telecom, Ericsson, and local media.