• Ethio Telecom, TINNO in talks to boost smartphone access
• Plan includes local assembly, affordable ODM devices, installment sales
• Initiative targets Ethiopia’s low smartphone penetration, now at 36%

Ethiopia’s state-owned telecom operator Ethio Telecom is in talks with China’s Android smartphone maker TINNO to form a strategic partnership aimed at expanding smartphone access in the country.

The matter was discussed on Monday, October 13, during a meeting between Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru and Andy Meng, TINNO’s Vice President for Global Business Development.

According to Ethio Telecom, the planned partnership will involve launching affordable smartphones under an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) model and setting up a local assembly plant. The initiative is intended to broaden access, improve affordability, and strengthen Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem.

The talks follow Ethio Telecom’s 15 billion birr (about $102.5 million) financing agreement with Siinqee Bank, signed last April. Of that amount, 4 billion birr is allocated to help low-income users purchase smartphones through installment plans. The company aims to distribute roughly 2 million devices each year.

These efforts target the affordability barrier that limits mobile internet adoption. A 2023 GSMA report found that while the average price of smartphones in Africa has fallen below $100, the cost remains out of reach for many households.

According to GSMA’s 2024 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity report, smartphone users are significantly more likely to discover, adopt, and use mobile internet for varied purposes. In Ethiopia, smartphone penetration stands at around 36%, leaving about 100 million people still offline.

Isaac K. Kassouwi