Ethio Telecom’s latest half-year performance tells a story of execution over optics, where strategy is measured not by promises but by what works on the ground.
From deepening rural network coverage to scaling digital platforms such as Telebirr, the state-owned operator is positioning itself as a national digital infrastructure partner powering Ethiopia’s wider digital economy.
At the centre of that shift is its Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028 Strategy, which CEO Frehiwot Tamiru says is designed to move Ethio Telecom beyond traditional connectivity and into the core of Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
“We are diligently implementing a strategy aimed at accelerating Ethiopia’s digital transformation to ensure digital inclusion, job creation and community benefits,” she said.
That intent is most visible in infrastructure investment, anchored by modernised systems and a growing portfolio of digital platforms that Ethiopians actively use.
Over the past six months, the operator prioritised network expansion not only in urban centres but across underserved rural areas, extending 4G LTE coverage to dozens of new towns and integrating communities previously excluded from digital services.
According to Tamiru, access is about more than expanding coverage maps.
“By rapidly adapting to evolving technologies, we are transforming Ethio Telecom into a globally competitive, regionally unique and digitally empowered entity to unlock and share the fruits of the digital economy,” she said.
Digital platforms have also become a key growth engine layered on top of connectivity. Telebirr, now embedded in daily economic activity, continues to anchor Ethio Telecom’s expansion into financial technology, supporting payments, savings and micro-loans at a national scale.
“The goal is to simplify citizens’ lives, support businesses and government institutions, and solidify the foundation of a vibrant digital ecosystem through continuous investment in telecom infrastructure, digital platforms and financial technology,” Tamiru added.
The strategy is delivering measurable results. In the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, Ethio Telecom added nearly four million new customers, pushing its subscriber base beyond 87 million.
Revenue climbed sharply to $545 million (ETB85.02 billion), driven by rising data usage, new products and services, and tighter internal efficiencies.
The operator also remained one of Ethiopia’s largest contributors to the national fiscus, paying $228 million (ETB35.6 billion) in taxes and securing close to $88 million in foreign currency, underscoring both its financial resilience and economic significance.
Behind the numbers is a quieter operational shift, with investments in cloud systems, AI-assisted operations and cybersecurity, alongside expanded fibre backbones and data-centre capacity.
“We are aligned with the national Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision, strengthening our role in accelerating comprehensive economic growth and creating new opportunities within the regional and global digital economies,” Tamiru said.
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