ZTE Corporation, in collaboration with Ethio Telecom, has successfully deployed 152 rural network sites across remote areas of Ethiopia, providing extensive 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile coverage to over 1 million users. This initiative, a key milestone under Ethiopia’s 2025 Digital Strategy and ZTE’s Signal Reach Program in Africa, significantly narrows the urban-rural digital gap and fosters inclusive digital development.
Addressing challenges such as diverse terrain, limited infrastructure, unstable power supply, and high operational costs, ZTE’s Rural Ecosystem end-to-end solution integrates three core modules to deliver wide coverage, energy-efficient operations, and accessible services. The EcoSite solution employs low-power, wide-coverage outdoor wireless base stations with multi-band compatibility and 5G upgrade readiness. Microwave backhaul technology extends coverage up to 50 km per site, overcoming transmission bottlenecks, while integrated Wi-Fi modules enable remote maintenance.
The EcoEnergy solution, paired with the iEnergy management platform, utilizes solar power and smart lithium batteries to enhance operational efficiency. Affordable smartphones, CPEs, and MiFi devices from the EcoDevice series ensure connectivity reaches end-users. Innovative modular tower designs reduce construction costs by 80% and deployment time by 75% compared to traditional methods.
ZTE’s iEPMS 4.0 digital delivery platform and Netmax intelligent tools optimize full-cycle network management. By October 2025, Ethio Telecom’s subscriber base reached 86.1 million, with 99.4% population coverage and 76.5% teledensity. Mobile broadband users surged to 47.06 million, while 4G coverage expanded from 37.5% in 2024 to 70.8% in 2025.
The project has driven socio-economic growth through digital agriculture, education, healthcare, and enterprise services. Over 100 low-density regions now benefit from internet access, enabling e-payments via Telebirr (serving 57.59 million users), remote education, and telemedicine. National parks like Bale Mountains leverage connectivity for wildlife conservation and eco-tourism. Local talent development programs have trained hundreds of technicians.
As a recognized P2C (Partner2Connect) leader by the ITU, ZTE advances global digital inclusion. Its Africa Signal Reach Program deploys energy-efficient networks in 20 countries, including Liberia (solar-powered EcoSites), Cameroon (3,600 km microwave backbone), South Africa (5G maritime coverage), and Egypt (1,500 high-speed villages). By merging innovation with inclusivity, ZTE and partners aim to accelerate UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a connected Africa and beyond.