Ethiopia Media and Telecoms Landscape Guide - Infoasaid
Ethiopia Media and Telecoms Landscape Guide - Infoasaid
Ethiopia Media and Telecoms Landscape Guide - Infoasaid
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63Call charges are cheap. There is a st<strong>and</strong>ard tariff of 0.3 birr (two US cents) perminute to all <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n mobiles <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lines.In most countries competition between rival mobile operators has driven subscribernumbers <strong>and</strong> network coverage up <strong>and</strong> call charges down.The <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n government has not so far announced any plans to liberalise thetelecommunications sector.However, in December 2010, it signed a two-year deal to outsource themanagement of Ethio Telecom to France Telecom in a bid to improve its networkcoverage <strong>and</strong> level of service.This deal has led to an influx of French managers <strong>and</strong> technical advisors.Ethio Telecom insiders say that in the past investments to exp<strong>and</strong> network coveragedid not always focus on areas with a high population density <strong>and</strong> revenue potential<strong>and</strong> this restricted traffic <strong>and</strong> revenue growth.Government oversight of the telecoms networks is strong.Purchasers of new mobile phone SIM cards are required to show proof of identity<strong>and</strong> register the corresponding phone line in their own name.Cyber cafes also keep a register of their customers.Many <strong>Ethiopia</strong>ns assume that government security agencies routinely monitortelephone calls <strong>and</strong> email traffic.Internet users say many websites run from abroad that are linked to oppositiongroups within <strong>Ethiopia</strong> or which are critical of the government have been blocked bythe authorities.In 2005, the government blocked the SMS text messaging service of EthioTelecom,saying it has been misused by the political opposition during hotly contestedelections that year.SMS messaging remained suspended for two years. It was only restored in 2007.Some companies now use SMS messages to distribute advertisements, but massSMS messages sent in Amharic only have a limited impact.Very few h<strong>and</strong>sets are enabled to display the Amharic alphabet.Organizations seeking to use software-based programs to distribute bulk SMSmessages to large groups of people, such as Frontline SMS may be required toobtain prior authorisation for such activities from the government.Internet usage in <strong>Ethiopia</strong> is very low <strong>and</strong> restricted to the main towns.
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