Ethiopia’s state-owned telecom operator, Ethio Telecom, has launched a new digital streaming platform, TeleStream, in a bid to diversify revenue, boost data consumption, and expand access to local content across the country.
The rollout of TeleStream forms a key part of Ethio Telecom’s broader “Next Horizon Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy, unveiled in August 2025, which aims to reposition the company as a central player in Ethiopia’s digital transformation and reduce reliance on traditional voice and data revenues.
“It goes beyond mere entertainment. We are building a massive platform that allows the education and health sectors, as well as various institutions, to digitize and market their offerings,” said Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio Telecom, during the launch event in Addis Ababa.
TeleStream is designed to serve multiple purposes. Public institutions, universities, content creators, and businesses can produce, host, and distribute digital content ranging from entertainment to educational and cultural programming. The platform also provides opportunities for online training, institutional communication, tourism promotion, and other digital services.
The initiative reflects a growing trend across Africa’s telecommunications sector, where operators are seeking to expand their role beyond connectivity. With growth in traditional voice and mobile data revenues gradually slowing, telecom companies are increasingly pursuing digital content and services as a strategic lever for value creation. By controlling more of the digital value chain from infrastructure to content delivery operators aim to capture greater revenue streams while fostering local digital ecosystems.
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Ethio Telecom’s move also seeks to challenge the dominance of international streaming platforms by establishing a domestic alternative capable of generating local revenue and retaining digital value within Ethiopia. Analysts say the strategy is timely, as rising internet penetration, smartphone adoption, and appetite for local content create favorable conditions for domestic streaming services.
Ethiopia, with a population of over 125 million, represents one of Africa’s largest untapped digital markets. Internet penetration has grown steadily, supported by improvements in mobile broadband coverage and affordability, making digital services an increasingly important driver of telecom growth.
Industry observers note that similar initiatives across the continent have allowed telcos to capture revenue from content subscriptions, advertising, and cloud-based services, while simultaneously stimulating higher data usage. By linking streaming to education, health, and public services, Ethio Telecom is positioning TeleStream as both a commercial and social tool.
“TeleStream is more than a streaming platform it is a national digital infrastructure for content, learning, and service delivery,” said a senior Ethio Telecom official. “It reflects our commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s digital transformation and building a sustainable digital economy.”
The launch comes amid rising competition in Ethiopia’s telecom sector, which is gradually opening to private players following decades of monopoly. Analysts expect the TeleStream initiative to serve as a model for other state-owned operators in the region seeking to leverage digital platforms to diversify revenue while promoting local content production.
As Ethiopia accelerates its digital agenda under the “Next Horizon Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy, initiatives like TeleStream are likely to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s digital economy, supporting both economic growth and the wider adoption of online services in education, health, and public administration.
Ethiopia’s state-owned telecommunications company, Ethio Telecom, is the country’s largest telecom operator and has historically been the sole provider of fixed-line and mobile services. With over 60 million subscribers, it dominates the market but faces growing pressure to diversify as traditional voice and data revenues plateau.
In 2025, Ethio Telecom unveiled its “Next Horizon Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy, aimed at repositioning the company as a full-service digital provider. The plan emphasizes expanding digital services beyond connectivity, including online platforms for content, education, health, and government services.
The launch of TeleStream marks the first major implementation under this strategy. The platform consolidates streaming services for entertainment, education, institutional communications, and cultural content. It targets both public institutions and private content creators, with the dual goal of increasing domestic data consumption and retaining value within Ethiopia, where international streaming platforms previously dominated.
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The initiative reflects a broader African trend, where telecom operators are moving beyond selling mobile data to offering integrated digital ecosystems. By creating platforms that combine content, communication, and services, operators can generate new revenue streams from subscriptions, advertising, and digital transactions while boosting data usage.
Ethiopia’s growing internet penetration, increasing smartphone adoption, and large population make it an attractive market for digital services. The government has also promoted digital infrastructure development, recognizing the role of technology in economic growth and public service delivery.
TeleStream also aligns with the state’s objectives to support education and health digitization, enabling online learning, training programs, and institutional communications. By providing a domestic alternative to international streaming services, Ethio Telecom seeks to strengthen the local digital economy and expand opportunities for Ethiopian content creators.
The launch comes amid gradual liberalization of Ethiopia’s telecom sector, which is expected to introduce private competitors. Ethio Telecom’s platform positions the company to retain market dominance while expanding into digital content and services, signaling a strategic shift from traditional telecom operations toward a broader digital economy role.
