Ethio Telecom has signed a major network expansion and modernization agreement with Ericsson at the Mobile World Congress Barcelona, in a move aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s digital infrastructure and improving connectivity across the country. The partnership forms part of the telecom company’s three year Next Horizon Strategy, which focuses on expanding network capacity and improving service delivery to support the country’s growing digital economy.
Under the agreement, about 1,500 mobile network sites will be upgraded and expanded within the Ericsson managed infrastructure. The programme will introduce advanced technologies and add new 4G layers to existing sites, replacing outdated systems with modern equipment designed to improve network coverage, reliability, and overall capacity.
The project will also focus on expanding digital access in rural communities. Ethio Telecom said the modernization plan will target about 75 underserved rural areas, while 502 existing 3G sites will be upgraded to advanced 4G technology to deliver faster and more reliable mobile broadband services to millions of users.
According to the company, the expansion will add about 2.8 million new 4G capacity within the Ericsson network circle and extend LTE services to 157 more towns, increasing the total number of connected towns to 276. The upgrade is also expected to support Ethiopia’s growing digital platforms such as telebirr, ZemenGebeya, and Znexus, which are driving digital payments, e commerce, and other online services across the country.