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Two of Ethiopia’s Leading Mobile Companies Celebrate Launch of Enhanced Rural Connectivity

18:38, 14 August 2024

Christina Glazkova

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As of 2020, Ethiopia had a mobile penetration rate of approximately 38%, with around 44.5 million mobile subscribers, according to the Ethiopian Communications Authority. In January 2022, there were about 21.14 million internet users in the country, which is roughly 18.2% of the population, as per the DataReportal.

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State-owned Ethio Telecom and what is considered to be its major competitor, Safaricom Ethiopia, have widened their client bases in rural areas of Ethiopia.

Ethio Telecom has officially launched 100 mobile solutions, providing connectivity to 903,000 previously unserved residents across 305 rural kebeles (administrative units).

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Enhanced rural connectivity aims to reduce travel distances for access to services by up to 20 kilometers on average. Due to challenges like difficult terrain, scattered settlements, and power shortages, the company seeks collaboration from all stakeholders to expand mobile services further.

Meanwhile, Safaricom Ethiopia's customer base reportedly grew by 250,000, reaching 4.6 million in the second quarter, driven by its expansion into the Tigray region.