Ethio Telecom Connecting 903,000 Residents: Expands Rural Connectivity.

Source: Ethio Telecom

Ethio Telecom has just hit a huge milestone, connecting 903,000 residents in some of the most remote areas of Ethiopia. We're talking about 305 kebeles (that’s neighborhoods or districts) that, until now, had zero mobile service.

Imagine living in a place where you'd have to trek up to 20 kilometers just to make a phone call or send a message. Crazy, right?

Well, that’s now a thing of the past for these communities. Thanks to Ethio Telecom’s new rural mobile solution, people in these areas can now stay connected without leaving their hometowns.

What makes this even cooler is that these new mobile sites are eco-friendly, powered by solar energy, with 2G and 3G connectivity, and the capacity for future 4G upgrades. This project is part of a larger commitment to deploy 500 rural mobile solutions across Ethiopia, furthering the vision of a digitally inclusive Ethiopia.

It’s a big win for sustainability and staying ahead of the tech curve. Of course, pulling this off wasn’t easy. Ethio Telecom faced tough challenges, from rugged terrain to scattered settlements, and even power shortages. But with a little help from local communities and some serious determination, they made it happen.

Looking ahead:

This is just the beginning, too. Ethio Telecom has big plans to keep expanding these services to even more remote areas. They’re calling on everyone—regulators, policymakers, tech providers—to pitch in and help bridge the digital divide.