Residents in Adama Get 5G Network

Nov 5 , 2022


[ssba-buttons]

Adama (Nazareth) town residents, 99km east of the capital, will receive faster Internet connection. Ethio telecom, the state-owned enterprise, launched a 5G networking service last week. Executives say they have achieved close to 97pc of coverage across the country, expanding earlier generation networks (3G and 4G), improving the network and upgrading earlier technologies. Adama is growing to be one of the industrial hubs primarily for textile and leather manufacturing. Over 80pc of digitizing the town will be accomplished by the end of the year. Making Adama a smart city is one of the projects incepted by the town's administration. The Engineering Corporation of Oromia has developed the design, which will be erected on 175hct of land, and incorporates healthcare facilities, smart mobility, and e-service providing government offices. The government is committed to developing 47pc of the plot, with private investors taking the rest. The 5G launch is part of the strategy toward making Adama a smart city. It will also facilitate e-government services provided by the town's administration. Ethio telecom has been testing the system after launching the 5G service in Addis Abeba over the past months. The network in Adama was launched in selected areas, such as the Adama Science & Technology University and hotels. Frehiwot Tameru, CEO of Ethio telecom, accompanied the town's Mayor, Hailu Jelil, and the University's President, Lemi Guta. The network reached up to 10Gb, enabling up to one million connections within one square kilometre. It is also hoped to help industries, facilitating real-time access to manufacturing plants, remote healthcare services and agriculture. Ethio telecom is working on expanding the services to 150 regional towns over the coming months.


Radar

Amendment Expands Access for Foreign Traders

Foreign participation in Ethiopia's wholesale, retail, import, and export trade sectors has come under renewed focus as the Ethiopian Investment Board(EIB) approved a significant amendment to Directive No. 1001/2016  in its meeting on May 23, 2025. The amendment, proposed by the Ethiopian Investment Commission(EIC), focuses on refining the legal framework governing foreign investment in these sectors. The decision is part of a broader strategy to enhance the country's appeal as an investment...


Radar

NBE Sets Four Percent Ceiling on Foreign Exchange Fees

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) issued a new foreign exchange market directive on May 20, 2025, that caps commercial banks' forex service fees at a maximum of four percent. Banks are instructed to adapt competitive, transparent, and streamlined pricing for all forex-related services. Effective May 26, 2025, total charges for purchasing foreign exchange whether for imports, service payments, or cash note purchases must not exceed the newly set limit. The directive also prohibits banks f...


Radar

SantimPay Launches Zero-fee Digital Remittance Platform

SantimPay has rolled out FrankRemit, first fully integrated, zero-fee digital remittance platform, in partnership with Bank of Abyssinia(BOA). The service smoothly connects all commercial banks and major mobile money providers, including Telebirr, M-Pesa, and CBE Birr which is a first of its kind in the country. FrankRemit is expected to revolutionise how the Ethiopian diaspora sends money home. Developed locally and tested over the past two weeks with successful transfers from multiple count...