Finalization Of The Topic

It is a diffficult job trying to look for any kind of statistics on Ethiopian Network infrastructure since the job is monopolized by the government and not everything is communicated to general public. 

But As a conclussion I will quote a paragraph from Encyclopedia of the Nations.

The government-owned Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) provides the population with any internet and telephone related services.The situation compares unfavorably with most other sub-Saharan African nations, to say nothing of the wealthier industrialized nations of the world

Use of ICT in the Health Sector

Ethiopia uses its ICT infrastructure in the health sector also. Among many others the following are the few areas it has been applied.

1. Telemedicine: both in public hospitals and universities to facilitate cooperation among other hospitals around the world and medical institutions 
2. Electronic medical records 
3. Health Education 
4. HIV related Data warehouses

Problems with Network Infrastructure

Some problems aced by the Ethiopian network infrastructure are: 

1. Internet service provided by ETC is inadequately managed and ultimately unreliable. 
2. Technical support for telephone problems  or internet access problems are not adequately provided or are not provided in time. 
3.  The entire current bandwidth consumed for distribution by the ETC Internet  service is estimated from sources to be a total of 4 Mbps (outbound) and 10 Mbps) to two destinations. However  the access to this bandwidth is not universally an enjoyable experience
4. Blocking of websites, or arbitrary filtering of traffic to manage the demand of services 
5. There are annoying problems with calls being dropped on the GSM network 
6. Very few establishments had proper LAN  infrastructure to distribute internet service, but it was observed that both the Solutions Group within the ETC and selected private IT companies have the  requisite expertise to design customer LAN and WAN networks in order to build enterprise-wide data communication  networks.   (Source)

Technologies Used

Ethiopia has two types of ways:

1. Domestic inter-urban network

The backbone of the domestic network for inter-urban connections are the analogue microwave lines which accesses almost all the regions of the country except for some remote areas which are accessible only through rural calls made available mainly by the former RRC, today renamed as Disaster prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC). The microwave lines, although of high quality compared to the previous technologies, are becoming outdated. and the ETA is obliged to replace them by more modern digital ones. The first beneficiary of this improvement is the Addis Ababa Dire Dawa Harar line.

2. International connections

• Western Europe and America using INTELSAT Atlantic Ocean region satellite
• Europe, Asia and the Far East using the INTELSAT Indian Ocean region satellite
• The Middle East, Far-East and Western Europe using the SEA-WE-ME cable.

Source

Instance of Network expansion Projects in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) a contract agreement with SEACOM for procurement of ‘International fiber optics bandwidth connectivity’ through submarine fiber communication system via Djibouti.

WoredaNet

To bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities. to provide knowledge and information to citizens, to build organizational capacity at all levels of government, to provide the lowest level of government with accurate and timely information, Ethiopia has  implementation  WoredaNet  project for ICT application for empowering the citizens.

Services provided are:

1.   Video Conferencing

2.   Training and distance education

3.   Court Services

Submarine Network cables used in Ethiopia

Submarine Network cables used in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has one of the lowest rates of internet and mobile telephone penetration on the continent due to monopolization of the ICT service in the country by the government.

The providers area are:

·         Seacom

·         East Africa

·         TEAMS

 

Source

Instance of Network expansion Projects in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) a contract agreement with SEACOM for procurement of ‘International fiber optics bandwidth connectivity’ through submarine fiber communication system via Djibouti.

ICT Overview

ICT

Before getting in to details with the network structure of Ethiopia, I would first like to provide some briefings about the status of  ICT  in the country.

Information communication Technology is a new experience in Ethiopia with a life span of less than 20 years.

Ethiopian ICT is a governed by  Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (EICTDA) has been established as an autonomous Federal Government public office having its own juridical personality with the proclamation no. of 360/2003.

In recent times, Ethiopia has shown encouraging strides in the expansion of utilizing Information and Communication Technology for multi-purposes.  The country has recognized to play a meaningful role in the knowledge economy and is making significant efforts in the ICT arena. (source)