• Ethio Telecom has launched TeleStream to diversify revenue and boost data consumption.

• The move aligns with its “Next Horizon Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy.

• The operator aims to capture value in digital content, challenging international streaming platforms.

Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia’s state-owned telecom operator, last week launched TeleStream, a new digital streaming platform, as part of its effort to diversify revenue streams and stimulate data usage while expanding access to local content.

“It goes beyond mere entertainment. We are building a massive platform that allows the education and health sectors, as well as various institutions, to easily digitize and market their offerings,” said Frehiwot Tamiru, chief executive officer of Ethio Telecom, during the launch ceremony.

The rollout of TeleStream forms part of the company’s “Next Horizon Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy, unveiled in August 2025. The plan aims to reposition the operator as a central player in Ethiopia’s digital transformation.

The initiative reflects a broader shift in Africa’s telecommunications sector, where operators are increasingly seeking to control the full digital value chain, from connectivity infrastructure to services and content delivery.

As growth in voice and data revenues gradually slows, digital content is emerging as a strategic lever for value creation. Telecom companies are moving away from a model centered on selling mobile data toward becoming integrated digital service providers.

TeleStream will allow public institutions, universities, content creators and businesses to produce, host and distribute digital content. Beyond entertainment, the platform is designed to support online training, institutional communication, tourism promotion, and educational and cultural services.

Ethio Telecom is also seeking to capture a share of the streaming market currently dominated by international platforms by building a domestic digital ecosystem capable of generating local revenues.

Adoni Conrad Quenum