ZTE’s Signal Reach Program in Africa advances digital inclusion with sustainable networks in Ethiopia

• Ethio Telecom and ZTE, through the Signal Reach Program, have delivered 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity to over 1,000,000 underserved Ethiopians in remote areas, fundamentally transforming access to agriculture, education, healthcare, and environmental conservation
• ZTE’s Signal Reach Program in Africa deploys sustainable and cost-effective network solutions, accelerating economic and social development across the continent

ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions,  in collaboration with Ethio Telecom, has achieved a major milestone in support of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy.

This partnership successfully deployed 152 rural base stations across the country’s remote regions, providing widespread 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network coverage that benefits over 1,000,000 users in underserved areas. As a significant implementation of ZTE’s Signal Reach Program in Africa, this initiative directly contributes to the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy’s goal of transforming Ethiopia into an inclusive, prosperous society by leveraging digital technologies across various sectors.

Remote deployments often face major challenges, including diverse geographies, limited infrastructure, unstable power supply, and high operational costs. ZTE’s end-to-end Rural Ecosystem solution was instrumental in establishing this comprehensive, energy-efficient network. This solution integrates three key modules, EcoSite, EcoEnergy, and EcoDevice, to build a ‌comprehensive network‌ with wide coverage, energy adaptability, and accessible services for customers.

The EcoSite module features low-power, all-outdoor wireless base stations with multi-band compatibility and 5G readiness, flexibly matching network development across stages. With microwave backhaul technology enabling single-site coverage of up to 50 kilometers, this capability effectively overcomes transmission bottlenecks in remote areas. An innovative integrated Wi-Fi module supports remote O&M management. The EcoEnergy module presents an integrated energy solution that incorporates solar power and smart lithium batteries, and is managed by the iEnergy platform to enhance efficiency. Meanwhile, the EcoDevice module offers cost-effective smartphones, CPEs, and MiFi devices to ensure network accessibility for remote users.

For network construction, ZTE used an innovative Lego-type modular tower construction plan. This method reduces construction costs by 80% and shortens deployment cycles by 75% compared to traditional methods. Additionally, ZTE’s iEPMS 4.0 and intelligent tools like Netmax were deployed to streamline network construction, operation, and optimization.

As of October 2025, Ethio Telecom’s total customer base stands at an impressive 86.1 million. This robust growth is underpinned by a near-universal population coverage of 99.4% and a strong tele-density rate of 76.5%. Within this expansive reach, mobile voice customers remain the largest segment, totaling 83.61 million, while mobile broadband users now reach 47.06 million.

This remarkable growth, particularly in connectivity, is a testament to Ethio Telecom’s decisive leadership in rural areas. The company has played an instrumental role in accelerating digital access, driving major advancements in 4G population coverage from 37.5% in 2024 to an impressive 70.8% in 2025. By prioritizing underserved regions and collaborating closely with technology partners such as ZTE, Ethio Telecom continues to actively reduce the digital divide, while simultaneously delivering tangible socio-economic impact through the digitalization of critical sectors like agriculture, education, health services, and enterprise businesses.

Over the past years, these efforts have solidified Ethio Telecom’s commitment to expanding its nationwide digital footprint, making digital inclusion a core pillar of its transformation strategy. Through targeted rural network expansion and the effective deployment of its Telebirr mobile money service, the company has successfully enabled 57.59 million users—especially those in unbanked and underserved communities—to access digital financial and other essential digital services.

As of September 2025, the network jointly built by Ethio Telecom and ZTE has successfully covered over 100 low-density regions, with impact reaching far beyond mere connectivity. Rural farmers and herders in remote areas now access broader knowledge, skills, and information resources online and use the Telebirr platform for convenient electronic payments, helping to drive rural economic development. Following the network deployment, nearly 100 schools gained access to extensive online educational resources, and villagers can now receive prompt remote medical consultations. In environmental conservation, national parks such as Bale Mountains National Park utilize the network to support protection efforts for nearly 30% of Ethiopia’s endangered species, while promoting local tourism development and boosting regional economies. Moreover, the project has trained hundreds of local technicians, creating a sustainable talent development system for ICT.

Recognized as one of the first Partner2Connect champions by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ZTE is committed to promoting global digital transformation and sustainable development. ZTE’s Signal Reach Program in Africa aims to build low-energy, easily deployable networks in remote areas of 20 African countries through three pathways: innovative sites, green energy, and customized terminals.

In Liberia, EcoSite solar-powered sites have provided inclusive digital, financial, and energy services to more than 1,000,000 rural users. In Cameroon, a 360-kilometer backbone microwave network, traversing mountains and forests, provides reliable connectivity across a 2,000+ kilometer route, serving over 13 million users. In South Africa, the program achieved the first 5G ultra-long-range marine coverage in Africa. In Egypt, high-speed broadband networks have been built for over 1,500 villages, covering nearly 10 million people.

By combining technological innovation with its digital inclusion vision, ZTE is working with partners to bridge the digital divide and enable remote communities to benefit from the opportunities of the digital era. In the future, with the continued advancement of the Signal Reach Program in Africa, ZTE will continue to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help Africa and the world move towards a sustainable digital future.