FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers TRADE AFRICA Election 2026 New TIME REMAINING UNTIL ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL ELECTION 0Days 0Hours 0Minutes 0Seconds




Ethio telecom Dominates Industry with Expanding Profits, Coverage

Jul 13 , 2024


[ssba-buttons]

The state-owned teleco company netted 21.7 billion Br in the financial year, posting a 21.7pc jump in revenues to 93.7 billion Br from last financial year. While it has not enjoyed a monopoly since the entrance of Safaricom Ethiopia three years ago, its annual revenues have taken a leap with the competition. The centenarian operator increased its customer base by 8.9pc to reach 78.3 million, with an 85.4pc geographical coverage. Its nearly three-year-old mobile money service, Telebirr, is used by 47.5 million users, and transactions valued at 2.55 trillion Br have occurred to date. A formidable 73pc of the transactions occurred during the ended fiscal year, reflecting the service's accelerated growth. CEO Frehiwot Tamiru attributed foreign currency shortages to complete projects, theft, vandalism of equipment, and conflict in some parts of the country for problems Ethio telecom during the year. The CEO disclosed that a deal with an international financier for a foreign currency loan will relieve some pressure on the company in the coming year. She had declined to disclose the company's identity. “We're awaiting approval from the government,” Frehiwot told Fortune. Ethio-telecom, slated to issue a 10pc ownership stake to the public in the soon-to-be-launched capital markets, earned around 198 million dollars in the year from its international services, while delayed access to land impeded its growth in certain regional states. A part of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, Ethiopian Investment Holding, the state telecom operator, paid off 9.97 billion Br in dividends and around 21.79 billion Br in taxes.


Radar

Customs Commission Puts Government Transactions on Mesob

Public institutions must now process customs-related transactions through Mesob, a new electronic platform introduced to reduce manual procedures in government trade operations. The Customs Commission has directed the institutions to use the platform for customs clearance, transit processing, import and export procedures, transaction verification, and related services. Mesob became operational for public institutions on July 20, 2026, for customs services. Institutions must complete intern...


Radar

Addis Grants Extra Month for Residential Lease Renewals

Landlords and tenants in Addis Abeba have an extra month to renew residential lease agreements after the City Administration extended the registration deadline from August 6 to September 5, 2026. The Addis Abeba Housing Development & Administration Bureau attributed the extension to public requests for more time. Officials said it would ease congestion at registration centres and allow residents to complete the process more conveniently. The renewal exercise began in early July, follow...


Radar

Government Procurement Goes Digital with 597b Br Turnover

More than 597 billion Br in government purchases passed through Ethiopia's electronic procurement platform during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, widening the use of digital systems in public finance. The platform was used by 172 federal institutions and 196 affiliated entities during the year. More than 135,000 suppliers were registered to provide goods and services through the system, which is intended to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement. The governmen...