Council of ministers considers fiber optics proposal by Chinese Company

“ETC’s services are an embarrassment!”

By Groum Abate

 Council of Ministers is discussing a proposal by a Chinese company to introduce optical fiber lines for use in telecommunications throughout the country.
Sources told Capital that the government owned Chinese International Telecom Construction Corporation (CITCC) proposed to ETC the introduction this latest technology in Ethiopia by using existing EEPC electrical lines for telecommunication purposes, for an estimated cost of over 20 million dollars.
According to our sources the CITCC also proposed the specific use the new line that the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation is planning to erect connecting Djibouti, for installing optical fiber system for international calls. The project proposal presented to Council of Ministers promises to reduce the rate of international telephone calls by placing international calls directly thru Djibouti
These sources also indicated that ETC pays from two to three million birr for satellite usage for international calls and this money could be saved after the optical fiber goes operational.
According to sources the optical fiber that uses the power lines of EEPCo would reduce tariff by enabling calls to be made directly instead of indirectly thru a satellite owned by another country.
Capital learned that the Chinese company has also proposed to provide financing for the project that could be paid seven years after the completion of the project.