Ethiopia’s state-owned operator, Ethio Telecom, has launched a new three-year development roadmap, “Next Horizon: Digital and Beyond 2028,” aimed at expanding its customer base to 100 million subscribers.
Chief Executive Officer Frehiwot Tamiru announced on Tuesday, August 26, that the company expects to hit 88 million subscribers by the end of the 2025/2026 fiscal year, representing a 6 percent year-on-year growth. The number of mobile data and internet users is projected to exceed 52.8 million within the same period.
The company also set ambitious financial and technological goals. It forecasts total revenue of 235.8 billion birr (approximately $1.66 billion) for the fiscal year — a 45.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. Its flagship mobile money platform, TeleBirr, launched in May 2021 with support from Huawei, is expected to reach 62.5 million users and facilitate transactions worth 4.43 trillion birr by year-end. Looking ahead, TeleBirr’s customer base is projected to surpass 75 million by 2028, with total transaction volumes rising to 21.3 trillion birr.
As part of its broader vision, Ethio Telecom plans to expand and modernise its mobile network infrastructure, with major upgrades to 4G and 5G services nationwide. With Ethiopia’s population exceeding 120 million, the strategy underscores the company’s role in driving the country’s digital transformation. Through partnerships with Chinese technology firms, primarily Huawei and ZTE, Ethio Telecom aims to deliver innovative digital solutions, diversify services, and strengthen its position as a catalyst for economic growth and financial inclusion.