Ethio Telecom, the state monopoly, announces abandoning of mobile phone apparatus registration and cutting of service fees for internet ad mobile users by about half.

The news was announced on Wednesday by the new CEO of Ethio Telecom, Firehiwot Tamiru.



“The digital dividend of an efficient telecom is crucial. Improvement in cost & quality of internet will‘ve positive spill-over on the economy. EthioTel’s decision to rescind the requirement to register new phones as of today will make the life of tourists in #Ethiopia hassle free,” Fitsum Arega, Prime Minister Abiy’s chief of staff said.

“Ethio Telecom has decided to slash its rate,” Firehiwot said. She stated that the price will be slashed by 40% on local calls, 45% on SMS and 23% on internet service. Everyday Ethio Telecom sells on average between 1,000 -1,200 sim cards daily.

Telecommunications service was introduced in Ethiopia by Emperor Menelik II in 1894 when the construction of the telephone line from Harar to the capital city, Addis Ababa, was commenced. Then the interurban network continued to expand satisfactorily in all other directions from the capital.

Many important centers in the Empire were interconnected by lines, thus facilitating long distance communication with the assistants or operators at intermediate stations frequently acting as verbal human repeaters between the distant calling parties.