mobile phone plant

ZTE to build mobile phone plant in Ethiopia



ADDIS ABABA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Two EthiopiancompaniessaidonMonday they will work with Chinese telecoms gearmakerZTECorp(0763.HK: Quote,Profile,Research,StockBuzz) to buildthe African nation's first mobilephoneassemblyplant.

The $5.2 million facility in the northern town of BharDarwillbeable to produce more than 3,000 handsets a day once itisupandrunning in 18 months' time, Janora Technology, oneofthetwoEthiopian firms, said in a statement.

The other local company is the OrganisationfortheRehabilitationand Development of Amhara Region (TIRET).

Janora said it and TIRET would build the factory,whileZTEwouldprovide the machinery and technological know-how.

Industry sources said ZTE would also set up aCDMAnetworkwithcapacity for 2.4 million Ethiopian subscribers.

Demand for mobile phones in the Horn of Africanationhasrisensharply following the upgrading of services andtheexpansionofstate-owned EthiopianTelecommunicationCorporation(ETC).(Reporting by Tsegaye Tadesse;Editing by DanielWallis andDavidHolmes)






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