ZTE Corp, China's second largest telecom equipment company, signed an $800 million deal with Ethiopia-based telecom operator Ethio Telecom on Monday to help expand the African nation's mobile network infrastructure.

Ethio Telecom is the only mobile operator in the country of more than 80 million people.

ZTE's agreement with Ethio Telecom is half of a $1.6 billion project split with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's second largest telecom equipment maker. Huawei signed its agreement with Ethio last month.

Andualem Admassie, acting CEO of State-run Ethio Telecom, said the agreement would enable the African country to double subscribers to more than 50 million, according to Reuters.

The expansion project aims to increase mobile phone and 3G Internet access throughout the country and introduce 4G broadband Internet in the capital of Addis Ababa.