Ethio Telecom and Awash Bank Launch ‘Tila’ to Expand Digital Finance Access Nationwide
Under the partnership, digital financial services supported by an annual credit supply exceeding 2 billion ETB include ‘Tila’ Micro Saving Service, Personal Micro Credit, Employees’ Salary Loans, and SME Loan Services.
Ethio Telecom, the nation’s leading telecommunications provider, continues to strengthen its role in Ethiopia’s digital transformation by expanding access to telecom and digital services. Beyond standard connectivity, the company has actively contributed to the digital solutions and financial sectors, promoting an inclusive digital economy and accelerating nationwide digital adoption.
With over 57.59 million subscribers, Ethio Telecom’s telebirr platform has pioneered non-collateral digital micro-credit and savings services that deliver tangible economic impact. In collaboration with partner banks, telebirr has disbursed more than 31.6 billion ETB in digital loans to 15 million customers, while over 4.71 million customers have collectively saved more than 30.3 billion ETB, underscoring the platform’s role in empowering citizens financially.
In line with its “Next Horizon: Digital and Beyond 2028 Strategy,” Ethio Telecom announced the launch of ‘Tila’, a new digital finance and device financing service developed in partnership with Awash Bank, Ethiopia’s first private bank. The service introduces non-collateral micro-credit and device financing, allowing customers to acquire smartphones through long-term payment options and promoting wider access to digital financial services.
‘Tila’ targets a broad spectrum of users, including individuals in both rural and urban areas, employees of private and government institutions whose salaries are processed through telebirr and Awash Bank, as well as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and merchants. The platform utilizes an AI-assisted credit scoring model, enabling access to financial services simply by being an active telebirr or Ethio Telecom user.
Under the partnership, digital financial services supported by an annual credit supply exceeding 2 billion ETB include ‘Tila’ Micro Saving Service, Personal Micro Credit, Employees’ Salary Loans, and SME Loan Services. Individual microloans range from 5,000 to 16,000 ETB, while employees can access up to 1 million ETB repayable over 16 months. MSMEs and merchants can access unsecured loans from 50,000 ETB to 150,000 ETB to grow their businesses.
The Device Financing Service enables citizens—especially those in rural agricultural and pastoralist communities—to acquire smartphones and other devices on flexible payment plans. This initiative is designed to bridge the digital divide and increase participation in the digital economy, making financial services more inclusive.
Additionally, Ethio Telecom and Awash Bank have successfully piloted Cardless ATM and School Pay services, allowing customers to withdraw cash from Awash Bank ATMs using telebirr and conveniently pay school fees through the telebirr SuperApp. During the pilot, over 92,600 transactions totaling more than 97.3 million ETB were recorded.
To further drive smartphone adoption, Ethio Telecom recently launched ‘znexus’ cloud-based smart devices at affordable prices. The company remains committed to expanding digital and financial inclusion through innovative services and strengthened partnerships with financial institutions, improving daily life for communities across Ethiopia.
