Telecommunication
Infrastructure | Informatics |
ICT Training and Development
| Broadcasting/Media
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Telecommunication regulator: The
Ethiopian Telecommunications Agency (ETA) was established as an independent regulatory
body in 1996. The Agency is responsible for licensing, frequency management and other
regulatory functions.
Telecommunication operator: The Ethiopian Telecommunications
Corporation (ETC) is the oldest PTO in Africa, having completed over a
century of service. Both ETA and ETC have semi-autonomous status and report to the
Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Teledensity:
- Total: 0.56 (2002)
- Largest cities: 5.18 (2000)
- Rest of the country: 0.16
(2000)
Digital main lines: 61.9% (2000)
Waiting list for a telephone line:
- Total: 196,883
(2000)
- Average waiting time: 7.8
years (2000)
- Total demand (k): 428.8
(2000)
- Satisfied demand: 54.1%
(2000)
Telephone Tariffs (2000):
.
Category
|
Installation
charge |
Monthly
rate |
Local
automatic call |
Business |
US$ 37 |
US$ 2.1 |
US$ 0.02 |
Residence |
US$ 37 |
US$ 1.0 |
US$ 0.02 |
Source:
World Telecommunication Indicators 2002
Public telephones: 1,563 (2000)
Public telephones per 1,000 inhabitants:
0.02 (2000)
Mobile cellular subscribers:
45,000 (2002)
EthioMobile, the mobile
division of ETC, is the sole mobile operator. Ericsson
was awarded a contract by ETC covering turnkey solutions for the GSM
network in Ethiopia. The contract marked the first mobile network in the country and was
initially expected to serve 36,000 subscribers in the Addis Ababa area.
EthioMobile presently
operates in the GSM 900 MHz frequency range covering Addis Ababa, Debre Zeit, Nazareth,
Modjo and Sodere. Supplementary services available at extra charges include Voice Mail,
Call Forwarding, Call Barring, Call Waiting and Advice of Charge.
By July 2002, there were more than 42,000
subscribers. Amidst the growing waiting list, EthioMobile is conducting
tests to launch a pre-paid service.
Cellular subcribers as a % of total
telephone subscribers: 8.1 (2001)
Mobile cellular tariff:
EthioMobile Tariff as
of July 2002* (US$ 1.00 = Birr 8.57)
| Item |
Fee |
| Private
Subscription |
Birr 840.20 |
| Business
Subscription |
Birr 1559.20 |
| Monthly Rent |
Birr 50.00 |
| Peak Hour
Rates |
|
- Local Calls (Mobile – Mobile)
|
Birr 0.72/min
* 0.33 |
- Local Calls (Mobile - Fixed)
|
Birr 0.75/min
* 0.33 |
| Off-Peak Hour
Rates |
|
- Local Calls (Mobile – Mobile)
|
Birr 0.72/min
* 0.30 |
- Local Calls (Mobile - Fixed)
|
Birr 0.75/min
* 0.30 |
| Long-Distance
Calls |
(x+ Birr
0.72)/min |
| International
Calls |
(x+ Birr
0.75)/min |
|
(Where x is the tariff for calls from a normal (fixed) telephone.) |
* Source: Ethiopian
Telecommunications Corporation (ETC).
Telecommunications revenue (M US$):
80.7 (2000)
Telecommunications investment
(M US$): 29.8 (2000)
Telecommunications investment as a
% of revenue: 37.8 (2000)
Telecom equipment exports (M US$):
na
Telecom equipment imports (M US$):
27.3 (2000)
Community Access Centres: 2
telecentres, 575 service stations ran by the ETC across the country providing basic
telephone services, several cyber cafés ran by non-government entities and individuals in
major cities, and one cyber café ran by the ETC.
Facsimiles: 4,555 (2000)
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Informatics
Addis Ababa is the location of the
headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) which has long supported
electronic networking in the region through its Pan African Development Information System
(PADIS). The latter has now subsumed under the Development Information Services Division
(DISD) which has spearheaded the African
Information Society Initiative (AISI), an action framework to build Africa's
information and communication infrastructure.
The National Computer and
Information Centre (NCIC) at the Ethiopian Science and Technology
Commission (ESTC) is responsible for electronic networking in academic and
research sectors. In January 1999, ESTC with support from DISD of ECA has taken the lead
in stimulating debates and discussions on ICT policy formulation and implementation in
Ethiopia. A National Information and Communications Infrastructure Framework Study Task
Force was formed in the Office of the Prime Minister around the same time. It reitertaed
the need for an "adequate national policy rules and regulation" to address the
ICT issue. Unless the issue is addressed in such manner, "its negative consequences
will be major hindrances for all development effort of information system at national and
regional levels," the task force stated.
Despite the drafting of a comprehensive and
well-organised proposal by a broadly constituted cross-sectoral national Internet group, Bringing
Internet to Ethiopia (BITE), the Ethiopian Telecommunications
Corporation (ETC) retains the full monopoly over Internet service provision in the country.
The Ethiopian Computer and
Information Technology Association (EthCITA) is a non-profit
professional organisation that was set up in 1991 by a group of Ethiopians in the
computing industry. EthCITA promotes the use and expansion of Information
Technology in general and computers in particular, among the Ethiopian community residing
both at home and abroad for a constructive and goal-oriented interaction.
Ethiopian
Information Technology Professionals Association (EITPA): Established in
December 1996, EITPA acquired its certificate of registration from the
authorised government agency in December 1997, and has as objectives the promotion of
Information Technology (IT) in Ethiopia and to enhance its professional interest of its
members.
The Ethiopian
Computer Standards Association (ECOSA), with the basic aim of coding
appropriate Amharic and Geez characters, was established in August 1997. ECOSA, in liaison
with international standards organisations, is expected to curb the disorderly working
system generated by using various Amharic scripts. The creation of ECOSA would facilitate
interaction among Ethiopian computer professionals to keep abreast with the fast advances
of the technology.
The Ethiopian
scientific society (ESS) was established as a non-profit organisation in the
State of Maryland in December 1987. The society is a non-political organisation and has
the following as its primary goals:
- Foster better relation and promote
interaction among Ethiopian scientists and engineers;
- Provide a medium for technical information
exchange among Ethiopians and other scientists; and
- Encourage collaboration among technical
experts on projects that would contribute to the development of Ethiopia.
The British Council in Ethiopia
is one of the key players engaged in promoting the use of ICTs for development in
Ethiopia. Among its major contributions are the cyber café available in its premises, the
launching of the only two telecentres in the country (Wolisso and Debre Birhan towns) and organizing
the Ethiopia in the Knowledge Age
conference.
Computer per 100
inhabitants: 0.12 (2000)
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ICT Training and Development
The School of Information Studies
for Africa (SISA) is a regional training centre established, with the
assistance of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and UNESCO in
September 1990, at the Addis Ababa University (AAU), to respond to the urgent and growing
need in Eastern and Southern Africa for high-level manpower who can research, design,
implement, manage, develop and operate information systems and services at the local,
national, and international levels. SISA, as a post-graduate school, offers a two-year
programme for regular students leading to an M.Sc. in Information Science. In 1995, the
Department of Library and Information Sciences at the Addis Ababa University has been
subsumed under SISA, enabling the latter to undertake a diploma programme in Library
Science and a degree programme in Library and Information Sciences. In 2001, the
Department was renamed Department of Information Systems and started to provide
undergraduate training leading to a bachelor's degree in information systems.
The Computer
Center of the Addis Ababa University which is part of the Department of
Mathematics started its functions in September 1986 with financial aid obtained from the
French Embassy and UNDP. The Center offers the following courses:
- Diploma Programme: a
three-year programme for extension (night) students leading to Diploma in Computer
Science.
- Minor Programme: various
Departments of the University allow their students to minor in Computer Science.
- B.Sc. Degree Programme:
this is a four-year programme for regular students leading to a B.Sc. degree in computer
science.
- Users-Course (Certificate Programme):
This is a three, to four-month course that is mainly based on application packages so as
to enable users to use different kinds of packages for their daily purposes/business.
The Electrical
Engineering Department of the Faculty
of Technology at the Addis Ababa University offers basic courses in signals
and systems, communication systems and theory, computer methods, computer programming,
logic design, computer architecture and microprocessors are offered to undergraduates. The
department also offers M.Sc. course in communication systems.
The Ethiopian
Telecommunications Training Institute (ETTI), which belongs the Ethiopian
Telecommunications Corporation (ETC), was set-up to provide basic training in plant
maintenance, telegraph and telex, switching, transmission, traffic and management of
telecommunication networks. ETTI has recently begun basic training on computer
applications.
The Ethiopian Science
and Technology Commission (ESTC) is the largest single training provider in the
country, offering a wide range of accredited courses at different levels. The Commission
has a high reputation and is well respected in the country. It has a software research
department for developing Amharic applications and a strong maintenance and repair
department.
Following the liberalisation
of the economy in 1992, the private sector has responded quickly to the growing demand for
basic computer training in software applications.The proliferation of computer training
centres in the country, although very varied in standard, has improved the general level
of computer literacy and resulted in more skilled computer usage. Most of these computer
training centers offer the following services: training courses on application packages,
sales of hardware and software, systems analysis and design, and computer maintenance and
upgrade.
The National Archives
and Library Agency is established following the adoption of the Ethiopian
National Archives and Library Proclamation by Parliament. The objectives of the Agency
will be to collect, systematically preserve, and make the information resources of the
country available for study and research purposes.
A number of privately ran
colleges have emerged following the opening to private investment of the education sector.
These provide degree, diploma, and postgraduate diploma training in computer science and
information systems. The main ones are Atlanta College, Beza College, Grace College,
HiLCoE, Kisama Africa University, Microlink, Royal College and Unity University.
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Broadcasting/Media
In July 1994, the Ethiopian
government restructured the entire media system and the various departments under the
Ministry of Information and Culture such as Radio, TV, Press and Ethiopian News Agency
(ENA) were re-established as semi-autonomous enterprises.
In 1999, a proclamation to provide for the
systematic management of broadcasting services came into force after approval by
parliament. The Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency is established as an
autonomous Federal Administrative Agency having its own legal personality and accountable
to the Prime Minister. The objective of the Agency shall be to ensure the expansion of a
high standard, prompt and reliable broadcasting service which can contribute to the
political, social and economic development of the country. The Agency provides radio and
television licences to applicants who would like to:
- Produce programme and transmit using their
own transmitters;
- Transmit programmes using hired transmission
instrument;
- Receive and broadcast the programme of
others using their own transmitters;
- Transmit using satellite or cable.
According to the proclamation, applicants
whose nationality is not Ethiopian, political parties and religious organisations cannot
be given a licence to undertake a broadcasting service. The Agency has not started
carrying out its mandated activities by July 2002.
Radios per 100
inhabitants: 19.6 (for year 1995)
Television
receivers per 100 inhabitants: 0.6 (2000)
Cable TV
subscribers: 3597 (Subscribers to
the South Africa based DSTV, a digital satellite
delivery system.)
Home satellite
dishes/antennas: 1,900 (2000)
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