http://alexlittle.net/blog/2008/09/26/internet-penetration-in-ethiopia/ Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:56:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://alexlittle.net/blog/2008/09/26/internet-penetration-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-1775 alex Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:10:33 +0000 http://alexlittle.net/blog/?p=510#comment-1775 Not so far as I can tell yet James. Owning and using a mobile is still a fairly expensive business here. A SIM card costs 368 birr (just under 40 USD) and then even the most basic handset is another 400+ birr (40+ USD). On top of that SIM cards aren't always available and when you do get one you need to spend at least 25 birr (3 USD) a month to keep the SIM working (so I've heard). All of which probably puts mobile ownership out of reach for most people. Not so far as I can tell yet James. Owning and using a mobile is still a fairly expensive business here. A SIM card costs 368 birr (just under 40 USD) and then even the most basic handset is another 400+ birr (40+ USD). On top of that SIM cards aren’t always available and when you do get one you need to spend at least 25 birr (3 USD) a month to keep the SIM working (so I’ve heard). All of which probably puts mobile ownership out of reach for most people.

]]> http://alexlittle.net/blog/2008/09/26/internet-penetration-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-1773 James Aczel Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:34:34 +0000 http://alexlittle.net/blog/?p=510#comment-1773 Any signs there of the mobile internet revolution that it is said will enable countries in this situation to leapfrog fixed lines for telephone and data? Any signs there of the mobile internet revolution that it is said will enable countries in this situation to leapfrog fixed lines for telephone and data?

]]> http://alexlittle.net/blog/2008/09/26/internet-penetration-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-1772 alex Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:06:50 +0000 http://alexlittle.net/blog/?p=510#comment-1772 Yes - the speeds can be really low here - even in Addis, most of the connections are still dial-up. Those connections that are described as broadband may be as low as about 76kbps, the most I've seen so far is 128kbps (shared between a _lot_ of users) - which is obviously a way off the 2Mb+speeds we're used to in the UK. Mekelle Uni is in the process of upgrading their internet connection to 2Mb, but that will be shared across the whole business school campus. Yes – the speeds can be really low here – even in Addis, most of the connections are still dial-up. Those connections that are described as broadband may be as low as about 76kbps, the most I’ve
seen so far is 128kbps (shared between a _lot_ of users) – which is obviously a way off the 2Mb+speeds we’re used to in the UK.
Mekelle Uni is in the process of upgrading their internet connection to 2Mb, but that will be shared across the whole business school campus.

]]> http://alexlittle.net/blog/2008/09/26/internet-penetration-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 Anesa Hosein Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:55:55 +0000 http://alexlittle.net/blog/?p=510#comment-1760 Wow - that's low ... but it is typical in developing countries to have low internet penetration ... with internet being higher around the city and decreasing rapidly as you move away from it ... and not only there is decrease in the amount of internet - but as well as speed ... and dial-up (horror upon horror!) might still be the norm :) Wow – that’s low … but it is typical in developing countries to have low internet penetration … with internet being higher around the city and decreasing rapidly as you move away from it … and not only there is decrease in the amount of internet – but as well as speed … and dial-up (horror upon horror!) might still be the norm

]]>