![ZTE used its end-to-end Rural Ecosystem solution to build a comprehensive, energy-efficient network. [Image Credit: ZTE]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zFJ5k5tf28Oo3Bzzx5dBhS-bW-hL8nOZ_U8esC1Q-ccx2xcJ-egvT_wywepcUbALe-NV8OmoDyEglRveLuAvbdU8pHDBTRcPIFV8_w)
ZTE and Ethio Telecom have deployed 152 rural base stations across East Africa's remote regions, increasing connectivity and closing the digital gap in underserved areas.
According to the announcement, the project is part of ZTE's Signal Reach Program, which aims to provide sustainable and cost-effective network solutions that will accelerate economic and social development across the continent.
Through the program, the firms delivered 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity to over one million Ethiopians in remote regions, significantly improving access to agriculture, education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.
ZTE went on to say the move is an important part of its African strategy, and that it directly contributes to the goal of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy, which is to transform the East African country into an inclusive, prosperous society by leveraging digital technologies across various sectors.
The Chinese company also stated that remote deployments frequently face significant challenges such as diverse geographies, limited infrastructure, unstable power supply, and high operational costs; thus, the end-to-end Rural Ecosystem solution, which Ethio Telecom has been leveraging, was critical in establishing a comprehensive, energy-efficient network.
The solution combines three major modules, EcoSite, EcoEnergy, and EcoDevice, to provide a comprehensive network with broad coverage, energy adjustability, and easily accessible services for clients.
As of September 2025, the network jointly built by Ethio Telecom and ZTE has successfully covered over 100 low-density regions, enabling users to access a broader range of information resources online and to use the Telebirr platform for convenient electronic payments, thereby promoting rural economic development.
“Ethio Telecom has played an instrumental role in accelerating digital access, driving major advancements in 4G population coverage from 37.5% in 2024 to an impressive 70.8% in 2025,” said ZTE.
It added: “By prioritising underserved regions and collaborating closely with technology partners such as ZTE, Ethio Telecom continues to actively reduce the digital divide, while simultaneously delivering tangible socio-economic impact through the digitalisation of critical sectors like agriculture, education, health services, and enterprise businesses.”
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