State-owned operator Ethio Telecom posted strong annual financial and operational performance for the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year, driven by network expansion, digital payments growth, and strategic infrastructure investments across the region.
Performance Overview
CEO Frehiwot Tamiru announced that total revenue grew by 33.2% year-over-year, achieving 99.7% of the company’s annual target.
| Metric | Recorded Value | Target Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | 215.8 Billion Birr | 99.7% |
| Total Subscribers | 90.1 Million | 101.7% |
| Infrastructure Capital Investment | 75.66 Billion Birr | — |
| New Mobile Towers Built | 603 (10,613 Total) | — |
| New Portfolio Offerings | 195 services (475 Total) | — |
Infrastructure & Connectivity Expansion
Capital expenditures during the fiscal year prioritized urban 4G/5G performance alongside extending telecommunications reach into rural communities:
- 4G Coverage Expansion: Added 264 new towns, extending 4G connectivity to 1,200 towns nationwide (covering 82.2% of targeted urban centers).
- 5G Rollout: Expanded active 5G services into 33 towns.
- Rural Connectivity: Extended network coverage to 195 additional kebeles across 117 rural districts, providing access to an estimated 1.5 million residents.
- Network Capacity: Newly constructed mobile infrastructure added capacity to host an additional 10.2 million mobile subscribers.
Digital Financial Ecosystem & Services
The operator’s flagship digital payment platform, teleBirr, continued its rapid adoption, serving as a primary catalyst for financial inclusion across Ethiopia.
Transaction Volume Highlight: telebirr processed 4.19 Trillion Birr in total annual transactions during the reporting period, pushing cumulative transactions since launch past 9.13 Trillion Birr.
- Active User Base: telebirr reached 60.59 million users.
- Credit Access: 19.72 million customers utilized digital credit offerings.
- E-Commerce & Digital Identity: Digital marketplace Zemen Gabaa logged 21.7 million sales, while 21.2 million registrations were completed for Ethiopia’s national digital ID platform, Fayda.
Strategic Timeline: “Next Horizon” & Regional Expansion
September 2024
Unveiling the “Next Horizon” Strategy
Launched the Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond strategy, aiming to construct 1,298 new mobile sites, extend 4G to 500 towns, and expand the user base to 83 million.
December 2025
Horizon Fiber Initiative MoU
Signed an agreement with Djibouti Telecom and Sudatel Group to develop a cross-border terrestrial fiber corridor linking subsea submarine cables to Sudan via Ethiopia.
February 2026
Regional Fiber Agreement Signed
Formalized the implementation agreement for the Horizon Fiber Initiative, creating a regional digital transit backbone across the Horn of Africa.
March 2026
Global Equipment Partnerships (MWC Barcelona)
Finalized strategic equipment deals with Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, and ZTE to modernize core infrastructure, expand 4G/5G footprints, and introduce AI-enabled network capabilities.
