Ethio Telecom Reports 162 Billion Birr Revenue and 4.9 Trillion Birr in Telebirr Transfers in 2017 Fiscal Year











Addis Ababa – July 24, 2025 – Ethio Telecom has reported a strong financial and operational performance for the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year (2024/2025), achieving 162 billion birr in revenue, amounting to 99% of its annual target. The announcement was made by CEO Frehiwot Tamiru, who highlighted the company’s multifaceted contribution to advancing Digital Ethiopia 2025, expanding telecom infrastructure, and scaling digital financial services.

Revenue and Subscriber Growth

Ethio Telecom’s total revenue for the year stood at 162 billion birr, reflecting solid performance across its mobile, internet, and financial service segments. The company added 7 million new users during the fiscal year, reaching a total subscriber base of 83.2 million, a 6.2% increase compared to the previous year.

Telebirr: A Pillar of Digital Finance

Telebirr, Ethio Telecom’s mobile money platform, continued to drive financial inclusion and digital economy growth:

4.93 trillion birr has been transferred through the platform since its launch, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year.

Of this, 2.3 trillion birr was transacted during the just-concluded fiscal year alone.

The number of Telebirr users grew to 54.84 million, confirming its rapid adoption and impact across Ethiopia.

CEO Frehiwot emphasized that Telebirr has made tangible contributions to modernizing Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem, especially among underserved and unbanked populations.

Network Expansion and Infrastructure Upgrades

Ethio Telecom invested heavily in upgrading and expanding its network infrastructure during the reporting year:

1,683 new mobile sites were deployed to enhance service delivery and reduce congestion.

512 cities and towns received 4G coverage, while 16 cities were connected to 5G services, underscoring the company’s commitment to next-generation connectivity.

Internet services were expanded to 2,388 kebeles, enabling 5.9 million citizens—many in rural and remote areas—to access the internet, a major step toward digital inclusion.

Product and Service Innovation

Ethio Telecom introduced 365 new products and services in the 2017 fiscal year. These spanned multiple sectors including:

Enterprise ICT solutions

Bundled packages for youth and families

Digital platforms for education, health, and agriculture

Enhanced customer service tools and self-service applications

Sustainable Innovation: EV Charging Stations

In line with Ethiopia’s climate and sustainability goals, Ethio Telecom also ventured into green infrastructure. It installed two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, which have so far served over 73,000 vehicles. This initiative highlights the company’s role in supporting Ethiopia’s clean energy transition.

Strategic Vision: Enabling Digital Ethiopia

CEO Frehiwot Tamiru reiterated that all these efforts align with the national Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy. She emphasized that Ethio Telecom is not just a telecommunications provider, but a strategic enabler of digital transformation, delivering efficient, inclusive, and forward-looking services that are reshaping how Ethiopians live, work, transact, and connect.