Manager of the Communication Affairs Main Department with ETC, Abdurahim Ahmed said that expansion of local and international transmission lines is among the major activities due to be carried out in the current Ethiopian fiscal year, which began July 8. Abdurahim said the Corporation will carry out activities aimed at implementing a universal access programme to create information and communication technology access for rural people.

The Corporation will also undertake expansion of the fixed network by supplying additional 250,000 lines. Mobile network capacity is also to be expanded by 1.5 million lines, Abdurahim added.

According to Abdurahim, the Corporation has planned to increase rural communication service project coverage to 5,500 stations. Expansion of fixed-line and Internet service clients by 250,000 and 60,000 respectively and creating access for 100,000 additional clients are among the plans, he said.

Moreover, Abdurahim said, the Corporation will implement the Civil Service Reform Programme nationwide along with other activities aimed at increasing the ETC’s financial capacity. Reforms of management systems, human resource management, service provision as well as expenditure management and other reforms related to ethics would also be carried out, he added.

According to Abdurahim, the Corporation has already started expanding telephone services to rural areas. In addition, local and international telecommunication transmission lines and other capacity building activities during the just-ended budget year were carried out at a cost of 4.2 billion birr.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News