Ethio Telecom deploys AI network technology
The new system increases 4G capacity by 11 percent and user throughput by 40 percent.
Ethio Telecom partnered with Chinese manufacturer ZTE Corporation to implement Ethiopia’s first pre-commercial Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AIR RAN) on November 4, 2026. This technology uses AI to improve mobile network capacity and data speeds.
The deployment has increased 4G network capacity by 11 percent and improved peak-hour user throughput by 40 percent compared with conventional solutions, according to the companies. The system uses ZTE’s AIREngine and AI-driven scheduling to allocate radio resources more intelligently during high traffic.
This initiative supports Ethio Telecom’s “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy to transform into an AI-driven digital enterprise. The company serves over 90 million subscribers and aims to improve network efficiency without solely adding physical infrastructure.
Why it mattersEthiopians using mobile data services will experience improved network speeds and capacity.