Issues 31 : Ethio Telecom Rolls 5G & The Rise of True to Life TikTokers in Ethiopia

Hello, Welcome to this week's edition of Shega Weekly Newsletter ( Issue # 31) - Here is a recap of major stories from Ethiopia's Innovative ecosystem.If this email was forwarded to you, subscribe here so that you don't miss the next editions.

Ethio Telecom Launches 5G 

The state-owned Ethio telecom has launched a 5G service on May 9, 2022, with a high-pitched event held at the Sheraton Addis.The operator has been working with Chinese tech giant Huwaei to prepare for the introduction, including the spending of 41 million dollars on Huawei-powered core systems that would allow for the accommodation of 5G.The launch, which comes as the telecom monopoly prepares for its first taste of competition in the form of Safaricom Ethiopia Plc, would make Ethiopia one of only a handful of African countries to avail a 5G network. Others include South Africa and neighboring Kenya. Read More. 

Ethiopia Sees The rise of True to Life Tiktokers 

Ethiopia is seeing the rise of new frank content creators that make their videos out of their families’ homes, that’s familiar to many Ethiopians. Making videos wearing old clothes, with no attempt to hide the background of their homes, gives their fans an authentic feeling to their work.Nosy neighbors, dramatic aunties, parents’ continuous disapproval of their kids, corporal punishment, sibling rivalry, parental preferential treatment, and fighting over scarce resources are the theme of these content creators. 

Read Shega's piece exploring the phenomenon. 

Dashen Bank Joins National ID Program Initiative 

The executives of Dashen Bank signed an agreement with representatives of the National ID Office last week, availing the Bank's branch network for registration efforts.Dashen is the latest in the industry to strike a deal with the office under the auspices of the Prime Minister's Office. Others include the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), the Cooperative Bank of Oromia (CBO), and the Bank of Abyssinia. Read More

Ethio Telcom Signs Exclusive Deal with Master Agents Ahead of Safaricom Launch 

The incumbent telecom operator 

Ethio Telecom

 has made its partnership agreement with 20 Master Agents exclusive ahead of the launching of Safaricom Ethiopia.

The deal, which allows 

Ethio Telecom

 to make these massive distributors its sole agents and prohibit them from getting into a similar agreement with Safaricom, was signed yesterday, May 6, 2022.

Seven of these companies that signed the agreement operate at the national level and include Ethiopost, the national postal carrier, Hidase Telecom, and TelePort. The remaining 13 master agents operate at the zonal and regional levels.

Read More.

   Here is what we've been reading:

The Next Wave: Can Big Tech solve Africa's internet problem? 

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