Ethio Telecom’s AU project complete

TELECOMS

A delegation led by Ethio Telecom CEO Jean Michel Latute has attended an event marking the conclusion of the grand telecom infrastructure connection project for the new multimillion dollar African Union head office in Addis Ababa, which has been under construction for the last two years.

AU officials expressed their gratitude for the effort made to successfully complete the project ahead of the deadline.

Project manager Ato Getahun Kebede explained that the new AU building had been connected to Ethio Telecom’s kirkos core network through optical fiber. The telco also installed transmission equipment and a backup system in the AU compound.

The project gives the AU access to the integrated modern reliable communication network such as, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA and Fixed line, IP PBX and broadband internet.  The project provides an Internet connection of 100 Mbps, and 100 Mbps back up option with full redundancy, and 4E1, 1000 fixed line voice services with additional 1000 reserve. It also connected the existing building with the new one through optical fiber.

Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the recently-completed conference centre and headquarters of the African Union (AU) was a timely manifestation of the level of African and Chinese friendship.

Backed by the Chinese government, the construction and furbishing of the complex cost USD 200 million. Meles said Ethiopia had provided 130,000 square of land with lease and exempt taxes for materials imported for the construction.

The new complex covers 112,000 sqm and comprises a 20-storey main office building, a 2,500 person-capacity conference centre and a sub-conference building with 41 conference rooms.