Safaricom Ethiopia, a telco operator, has announced that it has received the first batch of 13 locally produced telecom towers from Woda plc, the country’s first local firm to manufacture network towers, to upgrade and expand its network infrastructure.
The telecom provider claims that Woda will provide 68 superior towers for 50 million birr, or around $870,000.
This news follows the announcement by Safaricom Ethiopia one month ago of a $1.5 billion plan to construct 5,000 new towers over three years to increase network infrastructure and offer dependable, high-quality telecommunications services throughout the nation.
Currently, the telecom has around 2,800 towers, of which two-thirds are leased and the other third are self-built.
By January 1, 2024, there would be 24.83 million Internet users in Ethiopia, a little over 129 million people, or 19.4% of the country’s total population.
The telco emphasized the company’s commitment to helping local industries and advancing Ethiopia’s economic development by saying that the development is a necessary step towards providing all Ethiopians with dependable and accessible telecom services.
“The quality of their towers is good; their galvanization plant is the biggest in Africa and their cost-effectiveness will enable us to expand our network more efficiently and effectively. This collaboration not only supports our operational goals but also contributes to making manufacturing in Ethiopia the standard for Africa,” Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia stated.
According to Woda CEO Steven Cui, they are the first local business to provide telecom towers to Safaricom Ethiopia. He added that the business is dedicated to upholding the greatest standards of dependability and quality in its offerings.
The telecom claimed that the network expansion would increase coverage and capacity, give people and companies access to cutting-edge mobile and digital finance services and improve connectivity when it revealed its intention to invest in new towers in April 2024. The telecom company’s dedication to enhancing and growing its offerings has cemented its standing as a frontrunner in the sector.
Read more on Tech Gist Africa:
M-Pesa, Safaricom’s mobile money service, is now available in Ethiopia
Ethiopia plans to sell 45% of its state-owned telecom company Ethio-Telecom
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