Ethio Telecom aims to grow its customer base to 96.2 million and revenue to 295 billion Ethiopian birr in the 2026/27 fiscal year, according to projections announced by Chief Executive Officer Frehiwot Tamiru on 3 September 2026.
The subscriber target represents a 6.7% increase from current levels. Revenue is projected to rise approximately 36.7% year-on-year, driven by growth in data traffic, additional customers and continued network expansion. The company also expects users of its mobile money platform, Telebirr, to reach 68 million, an 11.7% rise.
These figures form part of the second year of Ethio Telecom’s three-year “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond” strategy, which seeks to expand the overall customer base toward 100 million and transform the operator from a traditional telecom provider into a broader technology company focused on digital financial services, cloud solutions and enterprise offerings.
In the first year of the strategy (ending June 2026), the company reported a customer base of about 90 million and Telebirr users approaching 61 million. Revenue for that period reached ETB 215.82 billion.
Alongside the commercial targets, Ethio Telecom plans to expand 4G population coverage to 95% (from 82.23%) and extend 4G services to 1,500 towns. Its 5G network is expected to reach 73 towns, adding 40 during the year. The company also intends to strengthen rural connectivity, fibre infrastructure and AI-driven tools for service quality and operational efficiency.
Ethio Telecom remains majority state-owned. The government has pursued partial privatisation as part of broader economic liberalisation; an earlier IPO sold only a limited portion of the offered shares. The operator continues to face emerging competition following the entry of a private consortium that includes Safaricom.
The 2026/27 targets reflect confidence in continued demand for data and digital services in a market of roughly 120 million people. Delivery will depend on execution of network rollout, sustained customer growth and the ability to convert traffic and financial-service expansion into revenue amid a still-evolving competitive landscape.
