• Ethio Telecom to extend telehealth services to 200 more hospitals
• Expansion aims to cut costs and improve healthcare access
• Rollout supported by 4G, 5G and broadband upgrades

Ethiopia’s state-owned Ethio Telecom plans to extend its telehealth services to 200 additional hospitals, the Ethiopian Press Agency reported on Monday. The expansion is expected to reduce patient costs and improve the exchange of medical expertise across the healthcare system.

“Ethio telecom aims to build a fully digital Ethiopia across all sectors, with special emphasis on healthcare,” said Yohannes Getahun, the company’s director of enterprise solutions.

The initiative forms part of the government’s national digital transformation programme and is intended to improve access to healthcare, raise service quality and strengthen system efficiency, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

To support the rollout, Ethio Telecom is increasing network capacity through wider deployment of 4G and 5G technologies, alongside the expansion of fixed broadband infrastructure.

Working with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the operator has already linked 67 referral hospitals to a centralised digital platform.

In remote regions, more than 1,000 solar-powered battery systems have been installed to ensure uninterrupted service and continuous transmission of health data. The improved connectivity enables secure sharing of medical information and supports the development of a more integrated digital health system nationwide.

Adoni Conrad Quenum