The Ethiopian government opened its telecom sector in 2021, welcoming competition for more significant technological innovation. It also focuses on modernising the retail payment sector, E-Governance, E-commerce and the overall payment landscape. Since then, there is marked progress in the way business is conducted. Indeed, Ethiopia’s digital economy is booming, with the country experiencing a surge in internet usage and mobile phone penetration. 

The government has launched several initiatives to promote the digital economy and entrepreneurship by broadening the avenues of participation for foreign investors and local job creation. However, the private sector lags in all these recent tech developments. Unlike other countries where the private sector is the leading player in technological innovation, in Ethiopia, the public sector has beaten in taking the lead in the digitisation evolution with Ethio Telecom and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, two of the giant state enterprises powerfully taking the lead, writes EBR’s Bamlak Fekadu. 

Billboards, radio, television, and press advertisements are still fundamental forms of advertising, particularly in traditional economies with poor access to digital media. Digital advertising is, however, becoming more common in metropolitan areas due to the rising usage of smartphones and internet connectivity. Businesses use social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to connect with younger, more technologically adept audiences and customers. Traditional techniques continue to be essential for reaching larger audiences despite this transition towards digital advertising, but some argue that in a few years, digital advertising will dominate the market. In this article, EBR’s Eden Teshome tells the story of the evolution of advertising practices.