Ethio-Telecom is to divide the country into 11 infrastructural zones to address network problems according to a press conference given by Bruno Duthoit, Chief Executive of the corporation and Abdurahim Ahmed, Head of Public Relations. The press conference was held at the Addis Ababa Sheraton Hotel, last week.

The new zones are also expected to simplify the procurement of telecom equipment as well as helping to better manage each network according to a current study conducted by the telecom. The study recommended creating so called telecom circles to create a boundary between the various networks supplied by different vendors.

The new zones were developed on the basis of a range of parameters including customer base, demography and geographical location. Accordingly Addis Ababa, whose current telecommunication infrastructure was primarily supplied by ZTE will be one center. The new system allows only one vendor to operate in a specific zone which is expected to ensure a more effective operational management allowing the telecom corporation to offer a swifter maintenance service it was noted. 

It is hoped that this will rectify the problems with the current quality of service due to the lack of smooth transition as calls transfer from one the infrastructure provided by one vendor to another.

Telecom vendors in Ethiopia so far have been ZTE, Ericsson, Siemens and Nokia.

Source: Fortune