Few business relationships on the African continent can say they are older than most modern nations’ borders. The Ethio Telecom and Ericsson partnership is one of them, and it has now reached an extraordinary 132-year milestone. Ericsson first entered Africa in Ethiopia in 1894, back when a telephone was a rare curiosity.
From Telephone Receivers to 5G
The story began with simple equipment. Ericsson supplied telephone receivers to the body that later became Ethio telecom. Soon after, a large exchange with 10,000 subscriber lines went into service in Addis Ababa, and a technical office followed. Think about that for a moment. While much of the world was still debating whether the telephone would catch on, Addis Ababa was already getting wired.
The path was not always smooth. However, in 2014, Ethiopia terminated its deal with Chinese firm ZTE, and Ericsson took up the task of expanding the network. Different competitors came and left, but Ericsson remained. The company has managed to renew its partnership with Ethiopia under CEO Frehiwot Tamiru, making Ericsson technology an important part of the LTE and 5G expansion.
Taking Ethiopia’s Network to New Cities
Ordinary Ethiopians feel the results. In November 2024, the two companies switched on 5G in Hawassa, giving students, traders and small businesses in the southern city faster connections. There is another expansion agreement that seeks to bring 4G-LTE connectivity to over 100 cities, which translates to fewer call drops and improved mobile connectivity in areas outside the capital city.
As a nation of over 120 million, that’s important. Mobile money transactions, e-learning and other agricultural apps require a stable connection.
What the Next Chapter Looks Like
The latest milestone came at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Ericsson and Ethio Telecom reached an agreement that entails upgrading the network and deploying advanced radio equipment, including Massive MIMO radios and microwave technologies.
The budgeting problem persists. As per an October 2024 company report, Ethio Telecom owes Ericsson USD 19 million. Still, both parties continue their efforts.
Why It Matters for Africa
More than just another company milestone, this is what dedication and commitment mean when building the network of a continent where connections create opportunities. Whether you are a coffee farmer checking the latest rates in Jimma or a tech start-up releasing an application in Addis, the network behind your smartphone bears 131 years of common history.
As long as the next 132 years are as successful as the previous ones, Ethiopia’s digital future will be promising.
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