Ethiopia is advancing rapidly toward a digital payments economy defined by interoperability, real-time transactions, and inclusive access. The National Digital Payments Strategy establishes the framework for instant payments, streamlined operations, and expanded reach to underserved populations and cross-border users. Banks that invest in resilient, modern infrastructure will secure leadership in this evolving market, while those that delay risk operational and competitive setbacks.
Wingu Africa is at the heart of this transformation, providing data centre infrastructure that enables banks to process instant payments, leverage big data for strategic decisions, and ensure uninterrupted operations.
Leading up to the event, the interview will highlight Wingu’s strategic contributions, communicate key messages, and set the context for its role in advancing inclusive development in Ethiopia’s financial sector. excerpts;
Q. What is the state of Ethiopia’s payments ecosystem today, and where do you see the biggest opportunities?
Ethiopia’s payments ecosystem is building strong momentum as digital and interoperable payment solutions expand. The rapid adoption of mobile money platforms such as Telebirr, the continued expansion of EthSwitch, and integrations with global payment networks such as Mastercard, all signal a decisive transition toward faster, more connected, and increasingly real-time payments.
This progress is supported by national ambition. The draft National Digital Payment Strategy provides a clear framework for building an inclusive, efficient, and competitive payments ecosystem. Financial inclusion sits at the core of this strategy, with a strong commitment to ensuring that all Ethiopians can access and benefit from digital financial services.
The continued expansion of digital payments and deeper integration with international payment networks directly advance this. Co-branded cards and globally connected payment instruments enable broader participation in both domestic and cross-border commerce, including for previously unbanked populations. Similarly, small and rural merchants are empowered to participate in the digital economy, reducing reliance on cash and expanding their market reach.
The most significant opportunity now lies in scaling this progress sustainably. Strengthening interoperability across banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators, supported by resilient infrastructure, will be critical to unlocking long-term economic value and ensuring continued trust in digital payments.
Q. As Ethiopia’s digital payments ecosystem grows, how will robust data infrastructure shape the country’s long-term financial stability?
Robust data infrastructure is fundamental to long-term financial stability. As Ethiopia’s economy becomes increasingly digitised, the financial sector’s ability to support expanding transaction volumes, new payment instruments, and broader access to financial services will depend on reliable, scalable, and secure systems.
Resilient infrastructure mitigates systemic risk by ensuring continuous availability, safeguarding data integrity, and implementing comprehensive cyber security measures, thereby maintaining confidence in digital financial services. It also supports regulatory compliance and seamless interoperability between institutions, allowing banks to innovate without compromising operational stability.
Banks that invest proactively in modern infrastructure are better positioned to scale efficiently, meet regulatory expectations, and maintain customer confidence as Ethiopia’s digital economy continues to expand.
Q. How can banks turn big data into a strategic asset, and what infrastructure decisions make this possible?
Banks generate vast volumes of data daily, but its true value is realised only when it can be analysed and acted upon in real time. When effectively leveraged, big data empowers banks to detect fraud instantly, improve risk assessments and credit scoring, personalise customer experiences, and accelerate decision-making.
This requires infrastructure that supports low-latency processing, scalable compute capacity, and secure access to data across systems. With the right foundation in place, data becomes a strategic asset rather than a by-product of operations.
From Wingu’s perspective, such infrastructure plays a critical role in transforming raw information into actionable intelligence, reinforcing customer trust, and supporting smarter, more responsive banking services.
Q. With growing integration into global payment networks, how should Ethiopian banks’ balance local data residency, performance, and security requirements?
Successfully integrating into global payment networks requires a balanced approach. Locally hosted, Tier III-certified data centres support regulatory compliance and national data sovereignty while delivering high performance and reliability.
At the same time, secure and dedicated connectivity to international networks ensures efficient settlement and authentication processes. By aligning local infrastructure with global best practices, Ethiopian banks can achieve both compliance and competitiveness, positioning themselves as trusted players in the digital economy.
Q. How can bank executives leverage instant payment capabilities to enhance financial inclusion?
Instant payment systems enable near-real-time transfers, seamless payments, and reliable service, fundamentally changing customer expectations. Bank executives can leverage these capabilities to expand financial inclusion through practical solutions such as micro-savings products, low-cost merchant payments, and transaction-based credit offerings.
Reliability is critical. For first-time digital users, a single failed transaction can undermine trust and drive customers back to cash-based alternatives. Meeting customer expectations requires modern backend systems capable of processing high volumes of transactions with minimal latency.
By combining instant payment capabilities with robust infrastructure, banks can build trust, encourage sustained adoption, strengthen engagement, and enable underserved populations to participate fully in Ethiopia’s emerging digital economy.
Q. Looking ahead, which banking innovations in Ethiopia are likely to be unlocked by a robust data backbone, and how do you see Wingu’s role in enabling this transformation?
A robust and scalable data backbone will drive the next generation of banking innovation in Ethiopia including the expansion of digital wallets, co-branded cards, embedded finance, and data-driven lending solutions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and real-time analytics will enable banks to tailor services, manage risk more dynamically, and respond faster to customer needs.
Wingu Africa plays a pivotal role in enabling this transformation by providing world-class, carrier-neutral, Tier III-certified data centre infrastructure locally. Our secure, scalable, and high-performance colocation solutions connect Ethiopian and East African financial institutions to global digital networks, ensuring operational reliability and regulatory compliance. We are committed to empowering banks and fintechs to innovate with confidence, launching new products and services while maintaining customer trust and service continuity. Our infrastructure serves as the strategic backbone of Ethiopia’s digital banking evolution, enabling the sector to deliver next-generation services and participate seamlessly in the global digital economy.
Q. As Ethiopia builds a modern payments infrastructure, how does Wingu engage stakeholders to drive financial inclusion, and what key messages will you highlight at the upcoming event?
Wingu partners closely with regulators, banks, fintechs, and government institutions to ensure that infrastructure development aligns with national priorities and future growth needs. Our approach focuses on building compliant, resilient, and scalable platforms that support innovation across the financial ecosystem.
Our message at the upcoming event is simple: infrastructure is not a cost; it is the foundation of transformation. Secure, high-performance, locally hosted data platforms are essential to enabling financial inclusion, interoperability, and sustainable growth. Investing in this foundation today, will allow Ethiopia’s payments ecosystem to scale confidently and compete globally.
