Ethio Telecom deploys first AI-powered mobile network technology
Ethio Telecom has partnered with Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer ZTE Corporation to deploy Ethiopia’s first pre-commercial Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AIR RAN), a development expected to improve mobile network capacity and data speeds as demand for connectivity continues to rise. The deployment, completed on November 4, 2026, has reportedly increased 4G network capacity by 11 percent and improved peak-hour user throughput by 40 percent compared with conventional network solutions, according to the two companies. The technology introduces artificial intelligence into the radio access network, the component of mobile telecommunications infrastructure responsible for connecting users’ devices to the wider network. It is designed to improve how network reso…