Smart bus deal signed with Ethiopian capital

The new system also enables public bus service providers to carry out real-time monitoring, remote control and intelligent scheduling, Mu told reporters in an online news briefing on Friday.

It will also help transit managers balance capacity and passenger flow, he added.

Addis Ababa is one of the largest cities in Africa with a population of about 5 million. Traffic congestion in the city is a major problem. Buses are an important means of getting around the city, with long lines of passengers at bus stations during peak hours. It usually takes half an hour for a passenger to get onto a bus.

During the signing ceremony, city officials said they expected the new system to make a big difference.

The public bus service transformation project in Addis Ababa is supported by a loan from the World Bank. Hisense, in partnership with Shandong Hi-Speed Group, won the bid in December.

Chen Xiaowen, an engineer at Hisense, is currently the leader of the company's team responsible for the project. He said the project is expected to help the city fill a 20 year gap in development and that his team will make the project a model for the company's overseas expansion.