Ethiopia set to expand telecom service with 1.18 billion USD
October 18, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The state-owned Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC) on Thursday announced plans to expand various telecom services across the country at a cost of 10. 6 billion birr (1.18 billion U.S. dollars) during the current Ethiopian budget year started on July 8.
It said all rural towns will get access to telephone service during the current budget year.
Abdurahim Ahmed, ETC corporate communication general manager, told journalists that the firm will execute various projects to expand mobile and fixed line telephone services, broadband multimedia and rural telephone services in the country.
Abdurahim said the installation of some 1.2 million regular telephone lines will be carried out, while 50,000 telephone subscribers will enjoy additional telecom services during the period.
Moreover, ETC has plans to install 3 million mobile telephone service lines and offer additional services to 100,000 mobile telephone subscribers, he said.
The ETC has also plans to provide the internet service to 50, 000 new subscribers.
Abdurahim said ETC will sign agreements with 108 foreign companies for the expansion of roaming service coverage.
Some 5,000 public phones will be installed across the nation, he said.
The ETC is currently making utmost efforts in a bid to increase customer satisfaction to 75 percent through expanding telecom infrastructure as well as meeting quality standards in the sector.
Abdurahim said the ETC has already launched activities targeted at making all rural areas beneficiaries of wireless telephone service during the period.
(Xinhua)