Ethio telecom has signed a major network expansion and modernization agreement with Ericsson during the global telecom industry gathering, Mobile World Congress Barcelona, marking a significant step in strengthening Ethiopia’s digital infrastructure.
The agreement forms part of Ethio telecom’s three-year “Next Horizon Strategy”, which aims to expand network capacity, improve service quality, and accelerate the country’s transition toward a modern digital economy.
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Under the deal, the telecom operator will expand, upgrade, and deploy new capabilities across 1,500 mobile sites within the Ericsson-managed network circle. The initiative includes network expansion, 4G layering, and the deployment of advanced technologies designed to significantly enhance coverage, reliability, and overall network capacity.
The modernization program will replace legacy infrastructure with state-of-the-art systems, enabling stronger 4G performance while also expanding the country’s 5G footprint to support faster connectivity and emerging digital services.
A major component of the project focuses on digital inclusion in rural areas. Ethio telecom plans to deploy 75 rural solution sites using tailored mobile technologies designed to operate in areas without commercial power infrastructure. The initiative will also modernize 502 existing 3G sites, upgrading them to become fully 4G-ready.
Within the Ericsson network circle, the project is expected to add 2.8 million in new 4G capacity, increasing the total capacity to 4.1 million users. LTE services will also expand to 157 additional towns, raising the total number of connected towns to 276.
As a result, population coverage in the region will increase by 45%, reaching 85% overall, significantly improving connectivity across both urban and underserved areas.
Ethio telecom said the expanded network infrastructure will also strengthen Ethiopia’s growing digital ecosystem, supporting platforms such as telebirr, ZemenGebeya, and Znexus.
The telecom operator added that continued investments in advanced technologies and strategic partnerships remain central to its long-term vision of positioning Ethiopia as a leading digital hub in Africa.
