Infrastructure and access
- Digital Public Infrastructure2
- Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure2
- Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure2
- Backbone / Middle-Mile1
- Cloud Infrastructure1
Digital Divide Country Profile · Africa
ET
Ethiopia
Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.
Location in the world
Ethiopia
Africa
Ethiopia🇪🇹
- Population (2024)
- 132,059,767
- Total area
- 1,104,300 km²
- Area in square miles
- 426,372.44 mi²
- Coastline
- Landlocked · 0 km
National digital inclusion context
A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.
This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Ethiopia in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.
The documented portfolio emphasizes Digital Public Infrastructure, Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure, Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure, Smartphones, 4G LTE. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.
Portfolio pattern
What the documented response contains.
Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.
Specific technologies
- Smartphones2
- 4G LTE1
- 5G1
- AI1
- APIs/interoperability1
Intervention classification
- Infrastructure only5
- Infrastructure and Specific Technology4
- Neither explicitly identified4
- Enterprise Digital Transformation + Cloud + AI + SME Inclusion1
- Specific Technology only1
Education and workforce
Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.
5 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 4 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.
Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.
Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.
Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.
Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.
Project and initiative portfolio
15 documented records
Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.
01Cross-border broadband and regional digital market integration
Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) – Ethiopia
Approved 2023; active · Cross-border and national connectivity corridorsView details
Cross-border broadband and regional digital market integration
Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) – Ethiopia
Approved 2023; active · Cross-border and national connectivity corridorsStatus / periodApproved 2023; activeLocationCross-border and national connectivity corridorsPopulationConsumers, businesses, digital-service users and people needing digital skillsOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank; regional partners
Increases affordable regional broadband connectivity and supports data flows, digital trade and digital skills.
Activities and approach: Cross-border broadband; data flows; policy convergence; digital skills
Education
02Research and education broadband connectivity
EthERNet international connectivity expansion through AfricaConnect support
Partnership support reported 2025 · National research and education network / international linksView details
Research and education broadband connectivity
EthERNet international connectivity expansion through AfricaConnect support
Partnership support reported 2025 · National research and education network / international linksStatus / periodPartnership support reported 2025LocationNational research and education network / international linksPopulationUniversities, researchers, students and education institutionsOrganizationsEthERNet; European Union AfricaConnect; Government of Ethiopia; World Bank coordination
Expands international connectivity for Ethiopia's national research and education network, improving high-capacity access for learning and research communities.
Activities and approach: Research and education network; international bandwidth
EducationCollege / university
03National mobile, fiber, 4G/5G and rural connectivity expansion
Ethio Telecom Next Horizon Digital & Beyond 2028 Year II Network Expansion
2026/27 annual business plan in implementation · Ethiopia nationwide; more than 1,400 kebeles targeted for rural expansionView details
National mobile, fiber, 4G/5G and rural connectivity expansion
Ethio Telecom Next Horizon Digital & Beyond 2028 Year II Network Expansion
2026/27 annual business plan in implementation · Ethiopia nationwide; more than 1,400 kebeles targeted for rural expansionStatus / period2026/27 annual business plan in implementationLocationEthiopia nationwide; more than 1,400 kebeles targeted for rural expansionPopulationRural and urban residents, businesses, institutions and underserved communitiesOrganizationsEthio telecomFundingAnnual business-plan investment not summarized in source alert
expanding mobile and fiber capacity, increasing 4G and 5G coverage, and adding dedicated rural sites to reach millions of citizens in underserved areas
Activities and approach: Mobile network expansion, 4G and 5G site deployment, rural mobile sites, fiber-to-tower conversion, coverage expansion and capacity upgrades
EducationK–12College / universityWorkforce
04Enterprise digital transformation; AI; cloud; cybersecurity; IoT; digital platforms
Ethio Telecom–Huawei Enterprise and SME Digital Innovation Partnership
Strategic partnership strengthened July 2026 · Ethiopia; enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses nationwideView details
Enterprise digital transformation; AI; cloud; cybersecurity; IoT; digital platforms
Ethio Telecom–Huawei Enterprise and SME Digital Innovation Partnership
Strategic partnership strengthened July 2026 · Ethiopia; enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses nationwideStatus / periodStrategic partnership strengthened July 2026LocationEthiopia; enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses nationwidePopulationEnterprises, SMEs, local technology ecosystem participants and business usersOrganizationsEthio Telecom; Huawei Northern AfricaFundingFunding not stated; national enterprise and SME market focus
Addresses the business and productive-use side of the divide by widening access to advanced digital capabilities beyond large or well-resourced organizations.
Activities and approach: AI; cloud computing; cybersecurity; IoT; data-centre services; digital platforms; local software development; system integration; technical support
05Device affordability / financial inclusion
Ethio telecom–Siinqee Bank Smartphone Device Financing Initiative
Active / reported 2025 · Ethiopia nationwideView details
Device affordability / financial inclusion
Ethio telecom–Siinqee Bank Smartphone Device Financing Initiative
Active / reported 2025 · Ethiopia nationwideStatus / periodActive / reported 2025LocationEthiopia nationwidePopulationConsumers unable to afford smartphones through upfront paymentOrganizationsEthio telecom; Siinqee BankFunding15 billion birr initiative reported in supporting coverage
Combines telecom and bank financing to reduce smartphone affordability barriers and widen access to mobile digital services.
Activities and approach: Device financing; mobile financial services; smartphone distribution
06Affordable-device financing and access initiative
Ethio Telecom–ZTE Affordable Smartphone Device Financing Partnership
Partnership commitment announced August 2026 · Ethiopia nationwideView details
Affordable-device financing and access initiative
Ethio Telecom–ZTE Affordable Smartphone Device Financing Partnership
Partnership commitment announced August 2026 · Ethiopia nationwideStatus / periodPartnership commitment announced August 2026LocationEthiopia nationwidePopulationLow- and middle-income consumers constrained by smartphone costsOrganizationsEthio telecom; ZTEFundingCommercial/partner financing mechanisms under development
reducing the device affordability barrier by developing financing options for access to smartphones
Activities and approach: Strategic partnership to create innovative device-financing options and expand access to affordable smartphones
Workforce
07Broadband affordability, digital economy and sector reform
Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project
2021–ongoing · National, including rural connectivityView details
Broadband affordability, digital economy and sector reform
Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project
2021–ongoing · National, including rural connectivityStatus / period2021–ongoingLocationNational, including rural connectivityPopulationConsumers, rural communities, digital firms, women and public institutionsOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank
Improves inclusiveness and affordability of digital services and has enabled millions of new broadband subscriptions.
Activities and approach: Telecom liberalization; broadband infrastructure; public digital services; entrepreneurship
Workforce
08Inclusive digital public infrastructure
Ethiopia Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project
Approved 2023; active through 2029 · NationalView details
Inclusive digital public infrastructure
Ethiopia Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project
Approved 2023; active through 2029 · NationalStatus / periodApproved 2023; active through 2029LocationNationalPopulationPeople lacking secure digital identity and access to servicesOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank
Expands an inclusive foundational digital ID so people can access digital public and financial services.
Activities and approach: Foundational digital ID; secure authentication; service access
09Digital public infrastructure / financial inclusion / e-government
Ethiopia Unified Government Digital Payment Platform - Health Sector Pilot
Pilot / integration underway in 2026 · Ethiopia; public health facilities and national payment ecosystemView details
Digital public infrastructure / financial inclusion / e-government
Ethiopia Unified Government Digital Payment Platform - Health Sector Pilot
Pilot / integration underway in 2026 · Ethiopia; public health facilities and national payment ecosystemStatus / periodPilot / integration underway in 2026LocationEthiopia; public health facilities and national payment ecosystemPopulationPublic-service users; health-insurance members; health extension workers; rural and urban residentsOrganizationsMinistry of Finance; National Bank of Ethiopia; EthSwitch; public health institutionsFundingGovernment-led national digital payment infrastructure; amount not stated
Creates interoperable digital public infrastructure for government payments while exposing and potentially reducing financial-access and service-access barriers.
Activities and approach: Unified payment gateway; health facility payments; Community-Based Health Insurance premiums and claims; mobile wallet/mobile banking integration; QR and card payments; biometric authentication; institutional integration
10Digital public infrastructure
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Digital ID and Data Protection Foundations
2021–ongoing · NationwideView details
Digital public infrastructure
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Digital ID and Data Protection Foundations
2021–ongoing · NationwideStatus / period2021–ongoingLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens lacking secure digital identityOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank
Supports foundational ID, data-protection institutions and public engagement.
Activities and approach: Digital ID; data protection
11Digital entrepreneurship inclusion
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Digital Startup and Business Grant Windows
2021–ongoing · NationwideView details
Digital entrepreneurship inclusion
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Digital Startup and Business Grant Windows
2021–ongoing · NationwideStatus / period2021–ongoingLocationNationwidePopulationDigital startups, businesses and informal workersOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank
Provides grants, devices and practical skills to broaden participation in the digital economy.
Activities and approach: Grant windows; devices; training
EducationWorkforce
12Education broadband
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Education and Research Broadband
2021–ongoing · Universities, CTEs, research institutions and TVETsView details
Education broadband
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Education and Research Broadband
2021–ongoing · Universities, CTEs, research institutions and TVETsStatus / period2021–ongoingLocationUniversities, CTEs, research institutions and TVETsPopulationStudents, faculty and researchersOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; EthERNet; World Bank
Connects selected education institutions to high-speed Internet, with nationwide ambition.
Activities and approach: High-speed education network
EducationCollege / university
13Digital public services
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Government ePortal and Remote-Work Infrastructure
2021–ongoing · Government agenciesView details
Digital public services
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Government ePortal and Remote-Work Infrastructure
2021–ongoing · Government agenciesStatus / period2021–ongoingLocationGovernment agenciesPopulationCitizens and public servantsOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank
Builds e-government capacity and remote-work infrastructure for more accessible public services.
Activities and approach: Government ePortal; remote-work systems
14Government/institution broadband
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Public Institution Broadband
2021–ongoing · Government institutions nationwideView details
Government/institution broadband
Ethiopian Digital Foundations – Public Institution Broadband
2021–ongoing · Government institutions nationwideStatus / period2021–ongoingLocationGovernment institutions nationwidePopulationCitizens and public servantsOrganizationsGovernment of Ethiopia; World Bank
Crowds in private investment and connects public institutions to broadband.
Activities and approach: Institutional broadband
15Private mobile broadband network expansion
Safaricom Ethiopia greenfield telecommunications network expansion
Construction/operation supported from 2023 · National, including rural areasView details
Private mobile broadband network expansion
Safaricom Ethiopia greenfield telecommunications network expansion
Construction/operation supported from 2023 · National, including rural areasStatus / periodConstruction/operation supported from 2023LocationNational, including rural areasPopulationPeople and businesses needing affordable mobile Internet and reliable connectivityOrganizationsSafaricom Ethiopia; IFC; MIGA; Vodafone/Vodacom; Sumitomo; BII
Introduces network competition and expands mobile broadband infrastructure, including new towers and rural connectivity.
Activities and approach: Mobile broadband network; cell towers; private telecom competition
Evidence boundary
Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.
Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.
Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.
Evidence and contextProfile Sources+
These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Ethiopia. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ethiopia/
- International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
- World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Ethiopia. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=ET
- World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Ethiopia. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=ET