From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Fri Nov 06 2009 - 08:40:02 EST
*Eri-Tel: Fulfilling Public Demand
*Simon Mesfun, Nov 2, 2009
Today, with the help of the outstanding progress in technology, which is
moving faster more than ever to simplify human life or people’s challenge in
life, everything can be conducted through a mobile phone: from connecting
people to facilitating the banking system. Eritrean Telecommunication
Service Corporation is trying to provide these multiple services. The
current reduction in the cost of international calls and the extensive
coverage of mobile telephone service through out the country is an instance
for the ever improving telecommunication services.
The discount in the international calls, which amounts to 33% on calls
originating from fixed and CDMA networks, will be effective as of November
1, 2009. (see table below).
In Eritrea, although the mobile telephone service is fast developing,
internet service has not yet been introduced. At present however, the
necessary infrastructure to incorporate internet access with the existing
mobile service has been prepared.
According to Mr. Mihreteab Tesfagiorgis, Mobile Network Division Manager at
Eritrean Telecommunication, the reason for delaying internet service through
mobile phones has been fears of congestion. Despite the setting up of
different stations that mount the capacity of the service, zero congestion
hasn’t been yet achieved. So if internet service is also added to the
service, it is obvious that the congestion will worsen.
“We are heading to provide fast and quality service, TV service, multimedia
service and other recent development services. But we will start the
internet service in mobile phones in the small towns and villages in order
to protect from congestion as the big towns are densely populated and with
high probability of congestion to happen. This is only until we mount the
capacity,” said Mr. Mihreteab.
As it has been mentioned many times; Nakfa, Southern Red Sea Region and some
other remote area of the country become the beneficiaries of mobile
telephone service in 2008 as ensuring the accessibility of mobile telephone
service in the whole country is the main objective of Eri-Tel. To accomplish
this project, 18 mobile base stations have been established throughout the
country in 2008 out of the overall 60 mobile base stations. These mobile
stations are the reason mobile service is available.
Regarding the effective usage of mobile telephone by the subscribers, Mr.
Mhreteab said “I can say mobile subscribers are using the technology
effectively. The low number of ex-subscribers, the high usage of text
messages and the increase in number of subscribers is a witness to the
effective usage.”
At the moment, SMS (short message service) is only limited to inside the
country and it will start soon with abroad.
According to Mr. Mihreteab, the main problem for the congestion at the
moment is the use of the miss call. “We are working to solve this problem,”
he said.
Installation of solar power is also another challenge to Eri-Tel as there
are many towns and villages which do not have 24-hour electricity. So it is
vital to have solar power and powerful cooling machine in the extreme hot
places of the country. Some of the towns and villages get the chance to have
solar power for their mobile telephone services by Eritel are; Idi, Gelealo,
Era, Nakfa, Teseney, Awla and others.
For 2009 Eritel is engaged in installing solar power in Golje, Teseney,
Haykota, Rora Mensae, Imba Tarika, Adi-Keyih, Barentu and other places. So
it can be said that the main objective at the moment is to provide with
solar energy villages where there is not electricity available for 24 hours.
In 2008, around 25,000 new mobile subscribers registered and now reached
133,000 mobile subscribers throughout the country.
It is only 3% of the overall population that has become the beneficiary of
mobile telephone services. This number is still encouraging according to Mr.
Mihreteab Tesfagiorgis, as mobile service started in 22 March 2004.
Regarding the fees, Mr. Mihreteab said that 110 Nakfa is fair enough
compared to the service provided. “Before the installation of mobile
telephone, if some one wants to announce death of a dear one to a family in
Afabet, the only option he had was to go there, nothing else. But now there
is another option, just clicking eight digits while he is at home,” he
added.
“The reference of the mobile telephone fee has to be the service it self,”
he added.
99% of the job to accomplish the needed infrastructure to start mobile
telephone service and the follow-ups is being conducted by Eritreans.
Human resource development is always another major objective of Eri-Tel and
much works have been conducted to develop its staff.
Regarding to internet service, Eri-Tel is increasing the capacity from time
to time. In the near future, Eri-Tel will double the bandwidth and make the
internet service fast.
*Rates in Nakfa of International Calls from Fixed and CDMA Network*
Item
Destination
*Peak Hours to 8:00 P.M*
*rates 6:A.M*
*Off-Peak *
*8:00 P.M to*
*Hours rate*
*6:00 A.M*
Existing Rates
*Discounted rates*
Existing Rates
*Discounted Rates*
1
Direct USA
15.00
*10.00*
10.00
*7.00*
2
Direct UK
15.00
*10.00*
10.00
*7.00*
3
Direct Italy
15.00
*10.00*
10.00
*7.00*
4
Direct Saudi
15.00
*10.00*
10.00
*7.00*
5
Direct Emirates
15.00
*10.00*
10.00
*7.00*
6
To other European countries
18.00
*12.00*
15.00
*10.00*
7
To other non-European countries
20.00
*13.00*
15.00
*10.00*
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