Key takeaways
- Ethio Telecom and ZTE deployed a pre-commercial AI-powered radio access network on November 4, 2026.
- The companies report an 11% increase in 4G network capacity compared with conventional solutions.
- They also report a 40% improvement in peak-hour user throughput.
- The system combines ZTE’s AIREngine, AI-driven beam scheduling and FDD Massive MIMO technology.
- The initiative supports Ethio Telecom’s “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy.
Why it matters
- AI-based resource allocation is designed to reduce pressure during periods of heavy mobile-data traffic.
- The project targets better performance from existing 4G infrastructure.
- The deployment remains pre-commercial; reported gains are company claims, not evidence of nationwide improvements.
What to watch
- Whether the pre-commercial deployment expands into wider commercial use.
- Performance disclosures as the technology is deployed more widely.
Source: Capital Ethiopia | 6 November 2026 | Original article
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration.