Ethio Telecom and ZTE install 152 base stations in rural areas
- Details
- Category: Wireless Networks
- 9485 views
ZTE and state-owned Ethio Telecom revealed on Monday that they have successfully deployed 152 rural base stations across Ethiopia’s remote regions, providing 2G, 3G and 4G mobile coverage for over 1 million users in underserved areas.
Ethio Telecom has been deploying ZTE’s modular end-to-end Rural Ecosystem solution, which comprises EcoSite low-power, multi-band, all-outdoor base stations with microwave backhaul, the EcoEnergy integrated energy solution with solar power and smart lithium batteries, and the EcoDevice module that offers cost-effective smartphones, CPEs, and MiFi devices to ensure network accessibility for remote users.
ZTE said it also used a Lego-type modular tower construction plan for the sites that it says reduced construction costs by 80% and shortened deployment cycles by 75% compared to traditional methods. Meanwhile, Ethio Telecom deployed ZTE's iEPMS 4.0 and intelligent tools like Netmax to streamline network construction, operation and optimization.
As of September 2025, the network jointly built by Ethio Telecom and ZTE covers over 100 low-density regions, providing connectivity and access to digital services such as educational resources, remote healthcare and Ethio Telecom’s Telebirr payments platform. ZTE said the project has also trained hundreds of local technicians, creating a sustainable ICT talent development system.
Ethio Telecom's total customer base was 86.1 million as of October 2025, of which just over 47 million are mobile broadband users. Its mobile network covers 99.4% of the population with a teledensity of 76.5%, while its 4G network coverage has grown from 37.5% in 2024 to 70.8% in 2025. Meanwhile, Ethio Telecom's Telebirr service has racked up 57.59 million users.
Earlier this year, Ethio Telecom said its strong subscriber growth and aggressive network expansion strategy contributed to an 80% year-on-year jump in annual pre-tax profit in its FY2025 financial results ending June 2025, with revenue up 72.9%.
However, a new audit of those results released over the weekend found that Ethio Telecom’s net profit for FY2025 dropped 70% year-on-year due to foreign exchange losses.
In August, Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru revealed plans to almost double the telco’s annual revenue at the end of FY2026, building on the back of increasing users and data usage.
