ETHIOPIA LAUNCHES AFRICA’S FIRST SMART GOVERNMENT OFFICE AT GERD WITH ZTE’S ALL-OPTICAL NETWORK

The GERD project is a symbol of Ethiopia’s national aspirations and a cornerstone of its economic development.

Ethiopia Digital governance Transformation Africa Communication Fiber coverage.
Ethiopia Unveils Africa’s First all-optical Government Office at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Project, Powered by ZTE Corporation’s FTTR-B Solution.
Ethiopia Unveils Africa’s First all-optical Government Office at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Project, Powered by ZTE Corporation’s FTTR-B Solution.


In a groundbreaking move toward digital governance, Ethiopia has unveiled Africa’s first all-optical government office at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project, powered by ZTE Corporation’s FTTR-B (Fiber to the Room for Business) solution.

The state-of-the-art network was implemented in collaboration with state-owned operator Ethio Telecom, marking a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s ongoing digital transformation and infrastructure modernization. The GERD office, a strategic coordination hub for Africa’s largest hydropower project, now operates on a fully optical, intelligent network designed to enhance efficiency, security, and communication.

The project includes the deployment of ZTE’s FTTR-B gateway ZXEN G100S, along with 34 optical access points (APs), ensuring full gigabit fiber coverage throughout offices, meeting rooms, and shared spaces. This allows seamless data access, IP telephony, surveillance, and resource sharing, all supported on a unified, high-performance network.

Traditionally, government buildings rely on Ethernet-based systems requiring separate networks for internet, voice, and surveillance, an approach often plagued by high costs, low efficiency, and operational complexity. By contrast, ZTE’s FTTR-B solution consolidates these functions into a single integrated architecture, reducing deployment costs by 25% and dramatically improving operational reliability.

The GERD office’s new system also features smart operations and maintenance (O&M) capabilities. Through ZTE’s unified cloud management platform, ZENIC ONE, network administrators gain access to real-time topology visualization, automated fault detection, remote diagnostics, and performance reporting. This has reportedly boosted maintenance efficiency by 30%.

Security was also a key focus. The FTTR-B system includes a built-in portal authentication server that provides separate access protocols for employees and visitors, protecting sensitive data while enabling flexible, secure network access.

The GERD project is a symbol of Ethiopia’s national aspirations and a cornerstone of its economic development. With the office’s digital upgrade, Ethiopia is signaling its intention to become a continental leader in public sector innovation.

ZTE Corporation stated that the project sets a replicable model for other government and enterprise networks across Africa. 

ZTE and Ethio Telecom plan to continue their partnership to expand FTTR applications across Ethiopia and further support the digitalization of key national institutions.

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