I know I'm probably being wildly optimistic, but I've been so impressed with internet provision so far in Africa (including here in Sudan), I've got to ask, is there any Wi-Fi available in Addis? Not even in an upmarket hotel where I can nurse a coffee for a r e a l l y l o n g time?
Is internet in Ethiopia still at dial-up speeds, and is there anywhere this isn't the case, especially in Addis?
Yep ... its still brutally slow. My hotel in Addis (the Ras Hotel) had an internet cafe ... there were people connecting with their own laptops nearby so I assume they had a WAP.
The only place I heard that had quicker internet access was at embassies, which get around the gov't controlled telecom problem but whether they'll let you use it is another story (I never tried).
As above the net is horrendously slow in Ethiopia - the Swiss Cafe nr. Medhane Alem has wi-fi. The best place to go for broadband (which is allegedly available but eye-wateringly expensive at c.US$4000 per month) is the Sheraton where it costs Birr 120/h but you are only charged for the time used unlike the Hilton where you have to pay 15 min slots.
Wi-Fi is growing in popularity, but it still can be very slow. Some places that do have Wi-Fi:
- LimeTree
- Swiss Cafe
- Shopping center across from the New York Cafe (don't remember the name)
- Hilton
- Sheraton
Some of the hotels are starting to provide free internet access in the rooms, so it might be worth looking into. Best place is the Sheraton - the price is 120 birr/1 hour, or you can pay 294 birr for 24 hours internet access, which is worth it if you'll be a while. They also have the fastest connection around.