Ethio telecom Launches teleStream and Zero-Touch Broadband Under Digital 2028 Strategy

Ethio telecom  has announced a major expansion of its national digital transformation efforts with the launch of new digital platforms under its Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028 strategy, aimed at accelerating digital inclusion, job creation, and inclusive economic growth across Ethiopia.

The company said the strategy is designed to strengthen its role in the continental digital landscape by moving beyond basic connectivity and positioning itself as a global competitor in digital solutions and telebirr-enabled financial services. According to the company, these efforts are intended to create new economic opportunities that benefit all segments of society while advancing Ethiopia’s broader digital development agenda.

As part of this strategy, Ethio telecom has launched teleStream, an internet-based content streaming service, alongside a Zero-Touch Digital System that fully modernizes fixed broadband (Wi-Fi) service delivery. Both initiatives are described as core pillars of the company’s long-term digital vision.

To drive national digital transformation and foster inclusive economic growth, our company is executing its ‘Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028’ strategy. This strategy focuses on digital inclusion, job creation, and strengthening our presence in the continental digital landscape. By swiftly embracing technological shifts, we are moving beyond basic connectivity to establish ourselves as a global competitor and a pioneer in digital solutions and telebirr financial services. Through these innovations, we are creating new economic opportunities that benefit all segments of our community.

teleStream reshapes the national media ecosystem

Ethio telecom said the teleStream service leverages the country’s modern fiber, 4G, and 5G infrastructure, its telecloud platform, and the integrated telebirr digital payment ecosystem. The company noted that the service is designed to modernize citizens’ digital lifestyles while elevating the national media and entertainment ecosystem.

Using the existing modern fiber, 4G, and 5G technology infrastructure, the telecloud, and the integrated telebirr digital and payment ecosystem as enabling factors, our company today implemented the ‘teleStream’ service; which beyond modernizing citizens’ digital lifestyle, provides a superior technology experience and elevates our country’s media and entertainment ecosystem to a higher level.

The company explained that teleStream is delivered through its fiber and telecloud infrastructure, offering low latency and high streaming quality. Users can access local and international content through home broadband Wi-Fi without the need for satellite dishes, ensuring reliable service unaffected by weather conditions.

Currently, the platform offers more than 60 live television channels and over 350 video-on-demand titles. The service can be accessed via fixed broadband or SIM cards using a set-top box that converts non-smart televisions into smart TVs, with the aim of making modern digital entertainment accessible to households nationwide.

Ethio telecom said teleStream opens new opportunities for media houses, production companies, advertisers, and content creators across education, health, and social sectors by providing a locally hosted, high-quality distribution platform. The company added that the service reduces reliance on satellite broadcasting by hosting content on local telecloud infrastructure, prioritizing culturally relevant and family-oriented programming.

Benefits across sectors

The company outlined wide-ranging benefits of teleStream for individuals, businesses, and institutions. For households, it offers high-quality entertainment without satellite dishes, simplified installation, parental controls, and seamless telebirr payments. For media houses and creators, it reduces foreign currency costs associated with satellite leasing and provides new monetization and advertising opportunities.

Businesses, hotels, and guest houses are expected to benefit from centralized, high-quality entertainment delivery without the operational burden of maintaining satellite systems. Educational, health, and government institutions can also use the platform to distribute learning materials, public health information, and awareness content nationwide.

Ethio telecom further said teleStream contributes to smart city development by reducing visual pollution from satellite dishes and supports national digital sovereignty by hosting content locally, lowering dependence on foreign satellite infrastructure.

Modernizing fixed broadband with zero-touch operations

Beyond content streaming, the company highlighted major progress in fixed broadband modernization. Ethio telecom said it has built more than 14,413 kilometers of metro fiber and deployed infrastructure capable of serving 1.2 million customers, while continuing a nationwide copper-to-fiber migration that has already transitioned over 79,000 customers.

The launch of Fiber to the Room (FTTR) services enables high-speed connectivity directly to specific rooms, supporting advanced applications such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and smart home technologies.

To support this infrastructure, the company has rolled out a Zero-Touch digital operations system that fully automates fixed internet service delivery. Customers can now request new Wi-Fi or combo services, report faults, and make payments digitally through the telebirr SuperApp, supported by Web-GIS and zero-touch technologies. Access to the service requires a national digital ID (Fayda) and a telebirr account.

Driving Digital Ethiopia 2030

Ethio telecom said the combined rollout of teleStream and modernized broadband services marks a new chapter in Ethiopia’s digital economy and directly supports the Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision.

In general, these comprehensive Broadband and teleStream services open a new chapter for our country’s digital economy transition and lay the foundation for universal growth. By making modern digital solutions widely accessible, our company is not only changing citizens’ digital lifestyles but is also translating the Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision into tangible success.

The company invited customers to subscribe to teleStream services bundled with fixed broadband through Ethio telecom service centers, the telebirr SuperApp, and Zemen Gebeya, noting that special promotional discounts are currently available.