Ethio Telecom lines up vendor deals at MWC26 for network modernisation

Details: John Tanner; Category: Operators; 10 March 2026; 7946 views

UPDATE: Ethio Telecom says it lined up several vendor deals to modernise its telecoms network at last week’s Mobile World Congress, with agreements with Ericsson and ZTE already signed and others with Huawei and Nokia in the pipeline.

Ethio Telecom is currently in the midst of a large-scale network expansion and modernization programme, which includes expanding infrastructure coverage, enhancing 4G capacity, advancing 5G expansion, extending rural mobile network connectivity, and expanding and modernizing both radio access and core network functions – all in service of its “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond” strategy.

To that end, Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru met with senior executives from Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, and Nokia at MWC26 to explore advanced technology solutions to optimise its network infrastructure and prepare it to support emerging technologies, including AI-enabled network capabilities.

Ethio Telecom said agreements with Ericsson and ZTE were finalized and signed during the event, while discussions with Huawei (which holds a significant share of Ethio Telecom’s network infrastructure) “progressed substantially and are nearing finalization.”

The deal with Ericsson involves expansion, upgrade, 4G layering, and deployment of new capabilities across 1,500 mobile sites within the Ericsson network-managed circle, which Ethio Telecom said will boost 4G coverage and capacity while expanding its 5G footprint.

The deal also specifically targets 75 rural solution sites with tailored mobile solutions aimed at bridging both the coverage and usage gaps in rural areas that have no access to commercial power. Ericsson will also upgrade of 502 existing 3G sites to be 4G-ready.

Ethio Telecom said the project will add expand LTE services to 157 additional towns within Ericsson's circle, increasing the total number of connected towns to 276, while boosting population coverage by 45%, reaching an overall 85% population coverage in the region.

The network expansion and modernization agreement with ZTE covers 647 network sites, including 115 rural sites, across Ethiopia. Ethio Telecom said the project will expand 4G coverage to 95.5% of the population.

Meanwhile, Ethio Telecom said it met with Nokia to review the successful completion of a proof of concept (PoC) for innovative technology solutions, and discuss preparations for a joint launch of an Innovation Excellence Centre to strengthen innovation, learning and digital capacity development in Ethiopia.

Ethio Telecom said it also held discussions with various global operators, solution providers, and technology innovators at MWC26 to explore new collaboration opportunities and drive digital transformation.