Addis Ababa,Jan 29/01/2026 (ABN)
Ethio telecom has reported strong operational and financial performance during the first half of Ethiopia’s 2018 fiscal year, recording notable growth in subscribers, network expansion, digital services, and financial inclusion.
According to the company’s half-year performance report, Ethio telecom added 3.93 million new subscribers, bringing the total number of telecom service users nationwide to 87.1 million. This achievement represents 101.5 percent of the planned target and reflects an increase of 6.56 million subscribers, or 8.1 percent growth, compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.
To support subscriber growth and enhance service quality, the company completed and commissioned 278 new mobile sites during the six-month period, including 130 sites in rural areas. These efforts increased mobile network capacity by 3.21 million, raising the total network carrying capacity to 108 million users.
The expansion of high-speed mobile services also continued, with 133 additional towns gaining access to 4G LTE services during the reporting period. This brought the total number of cities and towns with 4G coverage nationwide to 1,069.
In line with Ethiopia’s digital transformation agenda, Ethio telecom introduced 204 new products and services aimed at expanding participation in the digital economy. The number of Telebirr users reached 58.61 million, further strengthening the company’s position in digital financial services.
Financial performance remained strong, with total revenue reaching ETB 85.02 billion during the first half of the fiscal year, achieving 81.1 percent of the planned target. The company also generated USD 88.19 million in foreign currency earnings, meeting 83 percent of its target. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization reached ETB 42.36 billion, while ETB 35.6 billion was contributed to government revenue through taxes.
Telebirr continued to record strong growth, adding 4.69 million new users during the reporting period to reach a total of 58.61 million customers. Electronic money transactions worth ETB 1.94 trillion were processed through the platform in the first half of the fiscal year, bringing cumulative transactions to ETB 6.88 trillion.
The platform renewed its PCI DSS certification and became the first mobile money service in Ethiopia to obtain GSMA Mobile Money Certification, confirming compliance with international security and quality standards. Telebirr also expanded access to financial services by providing mobile micro-loans totaling ETB 8.62 billion to 4.27 million users, while 1.24 million customers saved more than ETB 8.68 billion through digital savings services.
During the reporting period, Ethio telecom allocated more than ETB 383.46 million to corporate social responsibility initiatives covering education, national development projects, humanitarian assistance, environmental protection, green development, and health programs. Of this amount, ETB 308.5 million was provided in cash and ETB 74.9 million in kind. Employees also contributed ETB 1.16 million through voluntary financial and material support, alongside blood donation campaigns and community service activities.
The company also continued expanding its digital commerce platform, Zemen Gebeya. Over the past seven months, 506 manufacturers and businesses listed 14,529 products on the platform. More than 33.3 million visits were recorded, with 42,400 purchase orders completed and 163,300 products sold. Transaction activity exceeded ETB 158.9 million, supporting the growth of Ethiopia’s digital trade ecosystem, and the platform received national recognition from the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.
Ethio telecom played a major role in accelerating Ethiopia’s National Digital ID program by deploying more than 3,500 registration devices across 12 regions, two city administrations, 119 zones, 867 woredas, and over 1,120 towns. Out of 32 million citizens registered nationally, the company accounted for 22 million registrations, representing 69 percent of total enrollment. During the first half of the fiscal year alone, Ethio telecom registered 10.11 million citizens, accounting for 90 percent of registrations during the period.
To meet demand for printed IDs, the company deployed 24 printing machines and distributed nearly 6 million printed IDs through 340 distribution centers nationwide.
Ethio telecom reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s digital transformation agenda and expanding inclusive digital and financial services across the country.
