ET
Ethio Telecom
Connecting 83 million Ethiopians to the digital economy
83.2M
SUBSCRIBERS
162B ETB
ANNUAL REVENUE
54.8M
TELEBIRR USERS
70.8%
4G COVERAGE
26
5G CITIES
1,683 NEW
MOBILE SITES
Overview
About Ethio Telecom
Ethio Telecom is the backbone of Ethiopia's digital transformation. As the nation's only telecom operator, it serves 83.2 million subscribers, a 6.2% year-on-year increase, achieving a national penetration rate of 73.7%.
The company's flagship product, telebirr, has become a financial super app with 54.8 million users, facilitating 2.38 trillion Birr in transactions. It now offers micro-loans, digital savings, and international remittance services.
In the 2024/25 fiscal year, Ethio Telecom generated 162 billion ETB in revenue, a 72.9% increase, with USD 213.6 million in foreign currency earnings. The company expanded 4G coverage from 37.5% to 70.8% and rolled out 5G to 26 cities.
Problem Statements
Challenges for Startups
Rural Digital Inclusion
29.3% of Ethiopians still lack telecom access. Build solutions that bring connectivity, digital literacy, and telebirr adoption to rural communities where infrastructure is sparse.
telebirr Ecosystem
telebirr processes 2.38 trillion ETB annually. Develop merchant tools, API integrations, or micro-lending platforms that expand the telebirr super app ecosystem.
AI Fraud Prevention
With 54.8M mobile money users, fraud detection is critical. Build AI-driven anti-fraud systems for SIM swap attacks, unauthorized transactions, and identity theft.
Innovation Areas
Where Startups Can Innovate
Rural last-mile connectivity solutions
telebirr merchant and developer APIs
AI-powered fraud detection and prevention
5G use cases for industrial and agricultural applications
Digital identity integration
Ready to Build?
Solve Ethio Telecom's Biggest Challenges
Apply through KAMA to work directly with Ethio Telecom on national-scale innovation.
Apply Now →