Ethio Telecom Rolls Back Incentives

Jan 16 , 2021


[ssba-buttons]

Ethio telecom, the nation's sole telecom service provider, has lowered its incentive commission fee for distributors of Electronic Voucher Distribution (EVD) by 2.5 percentage points. The new arrangement, effective January 1, 2021, is half of its previous commission fees. Under the new terms, the basic commission fee of 11pc active before introducing the new arrangement, will remain intact. The incentive package was initially designed to last six months, according to Ephrem Arefaye, chief marketing officer at Ethio telecom, who stated that the telecom operator plans to stop giving incentives once the market is familiarised with the service.  In addition to Yimulu, the electronic top-up service, the incentives played a huge role in reaching targets, with 81pc of printed EVD tickets sold and 66pc of them being used, according to Mohammed Haji, chief sales officer at the company. Currently, around 90 licensed EVD distributors operate in the country with the voucher service operational for over a year. Following the telecom sector's opening up for foreign investment, two new companies, expected to join Ethio telecom soon, will receive a 15-year operator license, enabling them to provide combined services for mobile, internet and fixed-line. With the liberalisation plan, the country will follow a ''2+1 approach,'' in which two operators and the state enterprise provide full telecom services.


Radar

Milkii App Disburses 25 Million Br in Collateral-Free Loans in Two Months

Oromia Bank's new collateral-free digital lending app, Milkii, has disbursed 25 million Br in loans without requiring collateral. Of this, 16 million Br has already been repaid, generating 1.4 million Br in revenue within just two months. Developed in partnership with Quantum Technology PLC, the app plans to make lending more accessible and inclusive, aligning with Oromia Bank's contribution to the Digital Ethiopia initiative. According to a press release, Milkii promotes financial inclusi...


Radar

Ethiopia Partners with UK to Ease Shipping Bottlenecks

The Ethiopian Freight Forwarders & Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 27, 2025, at Hyatt Regency Addis Abeba, to address skills gaps, customs delays, and corridor inefficiencies in the freight and logistics sector. The partnership focuses on technical cooperation, training, and regulatory reform. With over 90pc of trade dependent on the Djibouti corridor, rising congestion, customs...


Radar

Education Authority Sanctions Mishqen College for Rule Violations

The Education & Training Authority has issued a decisive directive last week, mandating legal action against Mishqen College for persistently defying regulatory orders and unlawfully continuing to offer higher education services. Mishqen College had previously been licensed to conduct undergraduate distance learning programs across multiple regions from 2019 to 2022. However, after serious regulatory breaches, the institution was ordered to cease all instruction, complete pending academic...