Mobile broadband reaches 94 percent of Ethiopians, but only around 25% of Ethiopian’s regularly use the internet. Closing that gap is the next job.
Ethiopians understand what national development looks like. Dam walls, highways and transmission lines running up ridges have been developed, photographed and debated across decades. This is why Ethiopia is developing infrastructure. Most of it is unseen however. Cable, Data Centers, national ID and mobile networks have been established. This infrastructure is now seen as the foundation in the same way roads and power lines are.
The most important figure in this is not how much cable or towers there are. A study by Addis Ababa Science and Technology University published in 2025 looked at the internet universality indicators by UNESCO. The results showed that 94% of the population has access to mobile broadband but only 25% of Ethiopian’s regularly use the internet. This is because having access to a signal is not the same as having service. Many cannot afford handsets and data bundles and have never been taught how to use them.
Starting off
Getting off the ground was challenging. In 2008 only 360,000 people had internet access (0.4% Penetration Rate). However, by 2019 the statistics have changed. Ethiopia has a penetration rate of around 20% with 39 mobile subscribers for every hundred people across a population of over 110 million. Despite having one of the oldest telecom companies in Africa since 1894, Ethiopia’s telecom industry is one of the most advanced in the world according to researchers.
There have been changes. The Ministry of Innovation and Technology in Ethiopia have stated that there has been an increase in internet users across the country. From 17 million to 42 million under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 program. Another source shows that there are 29.5 million internet users in Ethiopia (21.7% of the population in 2025). Comparing the sources shows similar trends in the stats. Both show the same trend and therefore we can see positive trends.
What has been developed?
Many policies and investments have been implemented. Over 800 services are now online according to the government. Data centers have been created. Three Tier-3 data centers have been created through private funding. More data centers will be created in Adama, Hawassa and Bahir Dar. Ethiopia aims to become a regional data center and reduce reliance on foreign facilities.
Opening up the telecom industry is also very important. For many years Ethio Telecom was the only operator. However due to partial privatization and granting Safaricom Ethiopia a license, new companies have appeared. Observers have said the market is becoming more appealing to investors. We can see this in shops and service centers selling new SIMs and data packages.
Public digital infrastructure has been developed. The Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy highlights the creation of Fayda ID and EthioPay. Mobile money has grown due to Telebirr and M-Pesa (by Ethio Telecom and Safaricom Ethiopia) gaining licenses as Payment Instrument Issuers. During the reform years the volumes of transactions have grown massively, going from millions to 6 billion. The amount of money transferred has also grown from 4 trillion birr to 17.5 trillion birr. According to GSMA research mobile money could contribute between 0.7-2.5percent of GDP in Ethiopia by 2030. This is around 1.5 billion US dollars.
Economically, optimism is not too high. International research has shown that for every 10% increase in broadband access in middle income countries there is an increase in GDP of 1.38%. This shows how broadband can contribute to the increase in GDP more than other ICT services. By 2025 Ethiopia’s digital economy will be 5.3% of the country’s GDP according to the World Bank. The average across Africa will be 5.2% so this is just the percentage of GDP.
Issues with Connectivity
Ethiopia are honest about the issues which is great. This means money goes towards solving the real issues.
According to the AASTU report 79% of residents do not have access. This shows that although there is coverage, this is not enough. Also key issues such as affordability, digital skills and device access are ignored. Quality is a big issue. In 2025, Ethiopia’s median fixed broadband download speeds were 9 Mbps compared to nearly 79Mbps globally.
Gender and rural/urban divide are also an issue. Generally rural women have less phones (as claimed by some experts) meaning there is a divide in connectivity. Complex SIM card registration also doesn’t help. Imagine a woman from an agricultural area who is in 4G coverage but does not have a phone. She asks for documents which she doesn’t have.
Data governance is currently being developed. Experts believe that without clear rules for the sector and transparency in the actions of state bodies, businesses and individuals there will always be issues when using services. The lack of data protection systems, despite the increase in use of digital services, is still a large issue according to UNESCO.
Four Key Issues
Affordability and digital skills should be taken seriously. I can see how important they are.
Make affordability and digital skills a priority. I understand how important they are in everyday life. Closing the gap in affordability of devices, reducing data cost and providing useful training will help close the gap better than adding more towers. Only 25% of people actually use the signals despite 94% coverage.
Address the gender issue. We cannot let anyone fall behind. Funding programmes for women, simplifying registrations and providing digital skills training will address this known issue rather than waiting for the network to get to rural areas.
Provide quality. Speed is just as important as coverage. If speeds aren’t improved then Ethiopia’s digital economy will be nothing but on paper.
Create rules about data protection. Trust is extremely important in any digital services sectors. The more Fayda and EthioPay look at peoples’ personal data the more clear and enforceable rules will determine whether people trust them and use their services. These will be closely aligned to global rules.
The Next Chapter
Ethiopia’s leaders have decided. They believe digital connectivity should be seen as the same as roads, electricity and clean water for the positive impact on the growth of the nation. Clearly they are correct. 20 years ago Ethiopia was almost cut off. Millions of people across the country are now connected to the internet. Mobile transactions are in trillions of Birr each year. However this will not be an easy next step. Whereas the first stage focused mainly on getting people connected, the next stage will ensure all Ethiopians have the opportunity to use the internet.
