EthioTelecom Bridging Digital Divide Across Africa

Addis Ababa, February 14, 2026 (ENA)—EthioTelecom is expanding across Africa, bridging the digital divide, and linking the continent's future through strategic partnerships, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed noted today.

Addressing the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, the PM highlighted Ethiopia’s efforts to advance digital transformation as part of a broader continental vision.

“Beyond aviation, EthioTelecom is expanding across Africa, bridging the digital divide, and linking the continent's future through strategic partnerships,” he stated.

Recall that Ethio telecom launched the ‘NEXT HORIZON: Digital & Beyond 2028 Strategy’, a strategy that goes beyond continuity and re-envisions its role in shaping Ethiopia’s digital future and expanding inclusive growth across Africa.

The strategy seeks to transform Ethio telecom into a globally competitive, regionally diversified, and digitally empowered enterprise.

It is a call to push beyond connectivity into platforms, ecosystems, and solutions that will catalyze national development agendas while unlocking new opportunities in the regional and global digital economy and positioning the company among the technology and innovation leaders in Africa and beyond.

In his speech to the summit, PM Abiy framed digital transformation as part of Africa’s defining moment, noting that the continent’s strategic asset lies in innovation and governance.

“Today, as Africa stands at a defining moment, we recognize that our continent's most strategic asset is not only what we extract, but what we design, build, and govern. Progress is achieved when vision is translated into systems and ideas into lasting institutions.”

Accordingly, Ethio telecom, Djibouti Telecom, and Sudatel Group have signed a landmark tripartite strategic agreement on February 4, 2026 under the Horizon Fiber Initiative, marking a major milestone in regional digital integration through the deployment of a high-capacity, cross-border multi-terabit optical fiber infrastructure.

The agreement establishes a resilient terrestrial fiber corridor connecting the international submarine cable landing stations in Djibouti, traversing Ethiopia, and extending onward to Sudan’s landing stations. This new route creates a scalable, secure, and diversified regional connectivity pathway linking East Africa to global digital.

Under Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, Ethiopia is also building digital public infrastructure that places citizens at the center of service delivery.

“Under Digital Ethiopia 2030, we're building digital public infrastructure that places citizens at the center of service delivery by linking FAIDA, our national digital ID, with payment systems and the massive data exchange. We enable secure access to services, seamless transactions, and responsible data sharing, fostering interest and driving our economy forward,” PM Abiy said.

He further noted that Ethiopia’s technological transformation is guided by integration and innovation.

“In 2020, Ethiopia established Africa's first artificial intelligence center, building on this foundation. We are preparing to launch an AI university anchored in the Ethiopian philosophy of Medemer through purposeful collaboration. This institution will unite human values with machine intelligence, local context with global relevance, and scientific rigor with applied impact. It will ensure technology drives growth and position Africa as a global contributor in the age of intelligence.”

In addition to digital connectivity, PM Abiy outlined major infrastructure investments aimed at anchoring Africa in global value chains.

“Through Ethiopian Airlines, we connect people, link markets, and move goods. To sustain this momentum, we are building Africa's largest airport, a next-generation gateway that will anchor our continent in global value chain.”

The Prime Minister concluded by reaffirming Africa’s shared responsibility in shaping its future.