Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy increases internet users by over 42 million – MInT

Addis Ababa, December 14, 2024 (FMC) — The Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MoIT) has disclosed that the implementation of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy has led to a significant increase in the number of internet users. The Strategy has already exceeded 42 million internet users.

By addressing the existing gaps of the strategy and building an inclusive digital economy, the ministry has revealed that the Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy is under preparation.

State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yishurun Alemayehu told ENA that the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy, aligned with Homegrown Economic reforms, has accelerated national reform efforts.

Over the past four years, substantial progress has been made in the implementation of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy, he said.

Among the key initiatives that have driven the sector’s growth, the liberalization of the ethio telecom sector, issuing 10 percent of shares to private investors, has helped the digital sector to expand very fast, the state minister said.

Accordingly, she said the implementation of Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy has raised internet users from 17 million to 42 million.

Furthermore, the strategy also fostered accessibility of electricity, development and number of additional data centers by both the government and the private sector.

“When the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy was first launched, there were approximately 17 million telecom and internet users. Today, that number has more than doubled to over 42.5 million. Alongside, access to electricity services has also been significantly improved.

The government has built large-scale data centers, and private sector investments have contributed to the construction of three 3-level data centers,” the state minister emphasized.

The establishment of high-capacity data centers in the ICT Park, according to ENA’s report, has created favorable conditions for both domestic and foreign investors to participate in the sector.

He also noted that the activities carried out in the ICT Park over the past four years have fostered a conducive environment for investment, job creation, talent development, and the exchange of knowledge.

He added, “Efforts have been made to provide numerous government services online and to date, over 800 government services have been launched and are available for use. In addition, progress has been made in developing electronic commerce with an e-commerce strategy already in place and the government has also prepared digital government and e-government strategies, both of which will soon be approved and implemented”.

The government has launched the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders program to build a digitally skilled society, he recalled.