Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s state-owned telecommunications operator, has reported a 47.5% increase in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to 92.9 billion birr ($581.3 million) for the financial year ended June 2026, driven by strong subscriber growth and rising demand for digital services. According to Reuters, total revenue climbed 33% to 215.8 billion birr, reflecting continued expansion in the company’s telecommunications and mobile financial services businesses. Chief Executive Frehiwot Tamiru attributed the performance to a growing customer base and increased adoption of digital platforms.
Ethio Telecom’s total subscriber base increased 8.3% to 90.12 million during the year, while users of its mobile money platform, Telebirr, grew 16.4% to 60.6 million. The company’s performance comes as Ethiopia continues implementing economic liberalisation reforms, including plans to partially privatise Ethio Telecom following last year’s initial public offering, which sold 10.7% of the shares offered. The government views the telecom sector as a key driver of digital transformation and private-sector investment.
The results also highlight the continued evolution of Ethiopia’s telecommunications market since the government opened the sector to competition in 2021. While Safaricom Ethiopia has established operations as the country’s first private telecom operator, Ethio Telecom has maintained its dominant market position through network expansion, improved digital services, and the rapid growth of Telebirr, which has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing mobile financial platforms.
For Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom’s latest financial performance reinforces the importance of digital infrastructure to the country’s broader economic transformation agenda. Analysts say sustained growth in telecommunications and mobile financial services is expected to support financial inclusion, attract further investment, and strengthen Ethiopia’s ambition to build one of Africa’s largest digital economies while advancing its ongoing market liberalisation programme.
