State Telecom Strikes Targets Amidst Turbulences

Ethio telecom generated ETB25.57 billion between July and December 2020, which is 95pct of the plan for the first six months of 2020/21 Ethiopian fiscal year. the revenue is a 12.3pct increment from the last year same period, despite frequent shutdowns during the latest period, following political instabilities in northern and western Ethiopia.The lions share of the total revenue is attributed to mobile voice, accounting 49pct, while 26pct was from data and internet, 11pct from value added service, and 10.3pct (USD80.21 million) from international business.

Total subscribers reached 50.7 million, increasing by 11.2pct from June 2020 and 104pct of target for the period. Mobile voice subscribers reached 48.9 million, data and internet users 23.5 million, fixed services 981,000 and fixed broadband subscribers at 309,400.

The 126 years old state telecom monopoly, which is currently in the process to award two licenses for private operators for the first time, has paid USD216.14 million external loan, USD16.2 billion tax and ETB500 million dividend, during the last six months period.