Ethio Telecom has held high-level strategic discussions with British International Investment (BII), signalling growing international interest in Ethiopia’s rapidly evolving digital infrastructure landscape.
The engagement brought together Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru and BII’s Managing Director and Head of Africa, Christopher Chijiutomi, to explore areas of potential collaboration around digital transformation, infrastructure development, and inclusive economic growth.
A Shift from Telecom Operator to Digital Ecosystem Builder
During the discussions, Ethio Telecom outlined its ongoing transformation from a traditional telecom operator into a broad-based digital services enabler.
The company highlighted its expansion into multiple adjacent sectors, including:
- Cloud computing and modular data centre services
- Artificial intelligence-driven applications
- The Telebirr mobile money platform
- E-commerce infrastructure
- Electric vehicle charging solutions
- Expanded national connectivity networks
This reflects a broader strategy to position Ethio Telecom as a platform-driven digital ecosystem provider, rather than solely a connectivity utility.
“Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028”
A key focus of the engagement was Ethio Telecom’s long-term roadmap titled “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028”.
This strategy sets out the company’s ambition to:
- Accelerate Ethiopia’s digital transformation
- Expand enterprise and consumer digital services
- Support industrial digitisation across key sectors
- Build scalable infrastructure for a mobile-first economy
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The plan aligns with Ethiopia’s broader national agenda to deepen digital inclusion and expand access to modern financial and communication services.
BII’s Focus: Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure
British International Investment reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure investments across Africa, with Ethiopia identified as a priority market.
The institution emphasised its strategic focus on:
- Mobilising private capital into frontier markets
- Supporting green and low-carbon infrastructure
- Advancing inclusive digital and financial systems
- Strengthening public-private collaboration in critical sectors
This aligns with BII’s broader mandate as the UK’s development finance institution, which prioritises both impact and commercial sustainability in emerging markets.
Ethiopia as a Strategic Digital Frontier
Ethiopia has become an increasingly important market for digital infrastructure investment in Africa, driven by:
- Large and rapidly growing population
- Expanding mobile penetration
- Liberalisation of the telecom sector
- Strong government push for digital and financial inclusion
Ethio Telecom remains central to this transformation, particularly through platforms like Telebirr, which has become a key driver of mobile financial adoption in the country.
Building a Partnership for Long-Term Impact
Both parties expressed interest in exploring future collaboration opportunities focused on:
- Digital infrastructure expansion
- Green and climate-resilient technologies
- Inclusive financial and digital services
- Large-scale connectivity projects
While no formal investment commitment was announced, the discussions highlight increasing alignment between Ethiopia’s national digital ambitions and international development finance priorities.
Looking Ahead
The engagement between Ethio Telecom and British International Investment reflects a broader shift in how Africa’s digital infrastructure is being financed and developed.
With Ethiopia positioning itself as a regional digital leader and BII actively deploying capital into frontier markets, the foundation is being laid for deeper collaboration around connectivity, fintech, and climate-aligned digital infrastructure.
As Ethiopia advances its “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy, partnerships like this could play a key role in shaping a more inclusive and digitally enabled economy over the coming decade.
Ethio Telecom Overview
Ethio Telecom provides mobile, broadband, and digital services across Ethiopia.
Ethio telecom WiFi
Offers home broadband, fibre internet, and public WiFi hotspots with prepaid and monthly packages.
Ethio telecom WiFi login
Connect to Ethio Telecom WiFi → open browser → enter phone number → receive OTP → log in.
Ethio telecom call center / 994 Ethio telecom
- Dial 994 (customer care)
- Toll-free from Ethio Telecom lines for support and enquiries.
Tele GEBEYA Ethio telecom
Telebirr Gebeya is an online marketplace for merchants to sell goods and accept payments via Telebirr.
Ethio telecom phone
Offers smartphones, MiFi devices, SIM cards, and data-enabled devices through official shops.
Ethio telecom services
- Voice & SMS
- 4G/5G data bundles
- Fibre internet
- Mobile money (Telebirr)
- Enterprise connectivity
- International roaming
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