ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia is experiencing "remarkable progress" in digital transformation as part of concerted efforts to expand and modernize telecom infrastructures, according to Belete Molla, the country's minister of Innovation and Technology.

The minister made the remarks while addressing the three-day Internet Development Conference 2025, which opened Tuesday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, and focused on strengthening internet infrastructure and regulatory frameworks among members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an eight-country trade bloc in Africa. Ethiopia has achieved "impressive milestones" in advancing telecom infrastructures with recent large-scale advanced 4G and 5G network expansion works, state-run Ethiopian News Agency quoted him as saying.

Thanks to these efforts, Molla indicated that the number of mobile service users in Ethiopia has surpassed 80.5 million. He said 4G network coverage has now exceeded 34.8 percent, while more than 14 cities and towns in the country currently have access to the 5G network.

The expansion of 4G and 5G networks across major Ethiopian cities and towns has significantly increased internet access and usage among the country's population, said Molla, highlighting that Ethiopia's fast-expanding digital financial platforms, such as the state-owned Ethio-Telecom's Chinese-developed TeleBirr, have contributed to the progress in digital transformation.

TeleBirr, which was developed with the support of Chinese tech giant Huawei and launched by Ethio-Telecom in May 2021, has now more than 51 million users, demonstrating the power of digital innovation to drive financial inclusion and transform how Ethiopians conduct financial transactions.

The official emphasized that the government's recent decision to liberalize the sector by allowing private telecom operators and data center providers to operate in the country has augmented the private sector's contribution to expanding digital infrastructures. He also underscored the need to continue bridging the digital divide to benefit all Ethiopians from the ongoing digital transformation. He mentioned the government's priorities in augmenting cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital literacy to guarantee a secure and equitable digital future.

Ethiopia, the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria with about 126.5 million people, has advanced investment over the past five years in expanding advanced 4G and launching 5G network coverage across major cities.

The three-day Internet Development Conference aims to address connectivity challenges, boost regional collaboration, and foster the growth of a robust internet economy among countries in the East Africa region, according to the organizers. Enditem

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