In its bid to cover the country with LTE Advanced service Ethio telecom now launched its service in its North Western Region. The North Western Region includes Bahirdar, Debremarkos, Chagni, Finote Selam, Injibara, dangila and Bure towns.
The expansion is based on where the company said that there is high mobile data traffic and surge in demand. “The service covers areas with a high demand for speedy internet,” said Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio telecom during the launching ceremony held at Blue Nile Resort in Bahir Dar.
LTE Advanced mobile service is one of the latest mobile technologies providing reliable connections enriching customers’ experience with exceptional speed to download or upload large-sized data, high-definition (HD) multimedia, live streaming and video conferencing in real-time.
The new expansion will enable and empower customers to digitize their services, increase productivity and improve their experiences.
Speaking about the expansion of the new project at the launching ceremony Frehiwot said, “It opens a new chapter and brings an immediate impact on congested areas of telecom service.”
The project is one of ethio telecom’s three-year growth strategies, including data traffic growth, and demand-based 4G/LTE expansion around the country.
Huawei supported Ethio Telecom to provide and deliver a 4G LTE advanced service in North Western region of Ethiopia. Huawei-Ethiopia CEO Chen Mingliang during the launching ceremony said “Huawei is honored and delighted to collaborate with Ethio Telecom in bringing LTE to this beautiful city and the wider Ethio Telecom’s NWR circle. We hope that the launch of this LTE network helps the region in closing the digital divide and enjoy the fruits of the digital era.”
Over the next few weeks, ethio telecom has also a plan to launch similar services in other parts of the country, for which preparation works are already underway.
Currently, at least 769 new sites are under development. Furthermore, she said that over 103 cities are earmarked under the company’s program to enjoy 4G/LTE advanced telecom services.
The company has 50.7 million subscribers and a geographic coverage of 85.4 percent at a national level.
The telecom provider, which aspires to become a preferred telecom operator among customers and partners in Ethiopia, also declared revenues of 25.5 billion birr in the first half of the current Ethiopian fiscal year, achieving 95 percent of its target.
The revenue marks a 12.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
During this period, a regulation enactment was also witnessed from the Council of Ministers that incorporated changes such as; the authorized capital increased to 400 billion birr from 40 billion birr, the go ahead to engage in Mobile Money and related digital finance services, permission to engage in other related activities including forming an entity and further gives the right to invest on equities locally and at international level.
On matters valuation, the company’s Asset valuation work has also been completed and total asset value has increased by 42% using IFRS reporting standards.
North Western Region receives LTE boost
BGI Ethiopia launches BGI XP Internship Program
On the 20th of October, 2020, BGI Ethiopia had signed a memorandum of understanding with Addis Ababa University, to implement the BGI XP internship Program. Accordingly, actions were taken. BGI Ethiopia introduced the program to the students at the 6kilo campus and explained BGI XP’s nature and the requirements set to participate in the program.
As the growth and scope of BGI Ethiopia increase rapidly and changes frequently, the institute is advancing with the development of new technologies and strategies to match its pace and do well with the changes.
BGI XP is the result of one of these endeavors. The objective of the project is to allow students to build their future careers in the institute. To help students build relationships with professionals and staff at different levels, gain valuable experience in teamwork, acquire problem-solving skills and learn the basic ways of effectively communicating in the workplace, which is essential to get employed. The program was developed based on the belief that it is a necessity rather than a choice to stay active and proficient in today’s job competition.
Through this program, BGI Ethiopia believes that it will create talented young professionals who are respectful of the institution’s values, have a good understanding of the organization’s work culture, multi-faceted business interests, and passionate about working towards positively changing the company. Registering within the institution’s deadline is required of students who wish to participate in this internship program, which is followed by various assessments. Passing through these assessments increases students’ confidence. During their internship, students will find real-life experiences and opportunities related to their careers. Ultimately, gaining the ability to decide their future.
The BGI Ethiopia Internship Program is held for two months in the summer, involving students from 1st to 3rd or 4th-year university students. Students who have been selected to participate in this internship program will receive a stipend from the institution during the internship months.
Newleaf fertility center begins operation
A new In Vitro fertilization /IVF/ treatment center called Newleaf fertility center has commenced its operation to the increasing market of the fertilization space.
According to Abubeker Mohamod, owner of the center, the center was set up with an investment of 48 million birr, and was built by highly qualified and experienced professionals.
Currently, the use of medical assistance to achieve fertility among couples who can’t conceive regardless of their trial to get pregnant is on the increase in Ethiopia.
To this end, Newleaf has aligned itself by ensuring every patient has the best chance of becoming a parent with state of the art technology and equipment. Newleaf will provide various treatments regarding IVF including; Embryo transfer and embryo freezing , assisted hatching, blastocyst transfer, infertility diagnosis and testing, ovarian reserve, hormone profile, genetic screening and gender selection, egg freezing and sperm freezing, male fertility issues, surgical sperm retrieval, non-surgical medical fertility and gynecologic surgeries with proven successful outcomes.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child.
During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus. One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks. Sometimes these steps are split into different parts and the process can take longer. IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology. Staying true to the cause New Leaf is proud to host the first genetic screening and assisted hatching in the country to ensure every patient has the best chance of becoming a parent.
Abubeker expressed that the country spends millions of dollars every year on medical tourism and therefore the treatment center could significantly reduce high cost and foreign currency.
“The nature of the treatment is that users are exposed to repeated conversations thus the high cost that follows from medical tourism is solved,” he explained. He further added that the service will be available to people in neighboring countries which need IVF services which in turn would generate foreign exchange revenue for the country.
Located in Nefas Silk Laphto Sub city, in front of South African Embassy, Abubeker explained that the center will provide services ranging from 5,000 birr up to 180,000 birr price range which is considerable for the majority of the population.
Even if the IVF sector is new to our country, it will play an important role specially in reducing the hassles in bringing world class treatments in our country.
Regional partnerships are key to COVID-19 recovery in Africa: Report
A new report by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) highlights how partnership between the two organizations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and their work with governments, communities and citizens has been key to preventing the catastrophic spread of the virus across the continent.
With over 3 million people infected and almost 100,000 lives lost across Africa, the report sheds light on societal resilience across sectors, the sheer determination by Africans to minimize the health impact, while analyzing the social disruption and economic consequences of the pandemic. From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Union was one of the first regional institutions to adopt a Joint Continental Strategy for the COVID-19 Outbreak.
Within the framework of the Strategy, and in consonance with UNDP’s role in helping countries prepare for, respond to and recover from COVID-19, the Regional Bureau for Africa established a strong partnership with Africa CDC and the AUC. “At the start of 2020, many would have bet their gold that sub-Saharan Africa was not the likely home for
inventions. And yet here we are, witnessing an incredible display of possibility. Africa is managing the complexity of this devastating pandemic and looking for solutions to end it,” said Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa.
UNDP partnered with Africa CDC, the AUC as well as other partners in the implementation of the continental strategy against COVID-19 on all fronts. These activities include: supporting the African Union Commission in studying the impact of COVID-19 on governance, peace and security; backing country offices and regional economic communities (RECs) in the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence during the pandemic; supporting the procurement of personal protective equipment for countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); bolstering health systems; supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to create innovative solutions for African problems; and building the capacity of target groups such as health workers, faith-based organizations, civil-society organizations, youth and women’s groups and leading health institutions.
Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Deputy Director of the Africa CDC, emphasized, “Throughout Africa, people are looking inward for the innovations that will move the continent forward. We’re looking ahead, to anticipate the needs of the next generations and envision a better future. And we’re looking to each other, to build the communities, the countries and the continent that we all know are possible.” While recent evidence on an emergent ‘third wave’ across parts of the continent remains concerning, this report reinforces the importance of whole-of-society partnerships in curbing and recovering from the pandemic.
