TeleBirr Mobile Money service is expected to have up to 53 million users in the country
borkena
Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated the country’s first Mobile Money service. It is the country’s giant state owned telecommunications service provider, Ethio Telecom, that launched the service – in a ceremonious event.
If you think about why all this celebration, said the CEO of Ethio Telecom – Firehiwot Tamiru – , “It deserves it!”
It is unique for Ethio Telecom’s 127 years of service, and was on the works for nearly two years. Firehiwot added that the Mobile Money service, TeleBirr, is created in consideration of low income earners, those who are living in the countryside as well as those who do not have any income.
Beyond being fast and easy, it is expected to minimize the need to print paper money and the spending for it.
Ethio Telecom got support from key institutions like the National Bank of Ethiopia in terms of preparing the legal framework to get license for the service. It took a lot of policy revisions, Firehiwot Tamiru said.
The company is projecting that up to 53 million Ethiopians will be Mobile Money service users in the country and the service will be available in five languages, it was added.
Top level government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attended the launching ceremony in the capital Addis Ababa.
Abiy Ahmed remarked ” We launched TeleBirr Mobile Money service withstanding international pressure.” He added that the service is intended to further strengthen Ethio Telecom to emerge as a competitor in the international market.
He also said that the Mobile Money service was proposed more than ten years ago but did not succeed at that time.
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Subject: “Ethiopia’s giant service provider Ethio Telecom inaugurated Tele Birr service” borkena, May 11, 2021
Humble Commentary, 11 May 2021
Ethio Telecom has always been one of the few impressive and progressive organization in Ethiopia. It is my fondest memory of the dedicated professionals in that organization (without being an employee of that organization).
The Tele progress is Not a surprise — the foundation of that organization was on solid ground. I salute the whole organization of then and today.
The News Item above concludes with these words “…the Mobile Money service was proposed more than ten years ago but did not succeed at that time.” It does not matter. The very fact of that background statement says everything about that organization i.e a solid foundation with a
constant vision. Indeed, the wisdom of ETHIOPIA, as a whole, say it all: “ለሁሉም ግዜ ኣለው ” ::
The government cash cow …giant telecom (dinosaur) providing poor wifi service at prohibitive price.
give us a break.
This is another fire spitting patriot golden daughter of the old country. She another over qualified person among our glorified women. She is among a group of women that includes Birtukan, Meaza, Muferiat and others in the leadership group of the regime who are showing their male counterparts how things should be done as a government official. I tell you what! CEO Firehiwot bint Tamiru, H.E. Meaza bint Ashenafi H.E. Muferiat bint Kamil and their female colleagues can tell what a male chauvinist will be thinking a year from now!!! No, no, that is far enough! Two years from now!! Hey Ittu, that still not far enough! Ok, five years from now!! No, still not far enough!!! Ten years! I gave up!!!!