Published: July 5, 2026 | Last updated: July 5, 2026
TL;DR
- Ethiopia has two mobile operators: Ethio Telecom (state-owned) and Safaricom Ethiopia, both offering 4G nationwide with 5G in major cities (MyBestSIM, 2026).
- Ethio Telecom’s monthly unlimited mobile data is available at Br.4,900, with 5G speed-based fixed wireless plans starting at 50 Mbps for Br.6,550/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026; Awajis, 2025).
- Ethio Telecom Fixed Broadband (FBB) 2-year contract plans start at 7 Mbps for Br.799.20/month, with speeds up to 500 Mbps for Br.52,000/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
- Safaricom Ethiopia offers prepaid fiber broadband starting at 10 Mbps for 4,000 ETB/month, with tokenized Wi-Fi hourly/daily plans launching in 2026 (Safaricom Ethiopia, 2026; Business Daily Africa, 2026).
- Ethio Telecom’s International Visitor Plan includes 30-day unlimited data at $40/€ with 90 minutes international voice (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
- Night data packages are available from both operators, with Ethio Telecom offering 1GB night data for Br.10 (10 PM to 8 AM) (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Ethio Telecom Mobile Data Packages (2026)
Ethio Telecom offers a wide range of mobile data packages for prepaid and postpaid customers. Packages can be purchased through the My Ethio Telecom app, telebirr, or by dialing *999# (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Daily Data Packages (Valid for 24 Hours)
| Package | Price (Birr) | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 100 MB | 5 | — |
| 200 MB | 10 | — |
| 300 MB | 15 | — |
| 600 MB | 25 | — |
| 1 GB | 37 | — |
| 2 GB | 70 | — |
Note: Bonus data is usable from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Weekly Data Packages (Valid for 7 Days)
| Package | Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 650 MB | 50 |
| 1 GB | 70 |
| 2.5 GB | 140 |
| 4 GB | 200 |
| 7.5 GB | 300 |
| 15 GB | 500 |
Monthly Data Packages (Valid for 30 Days)
| Package | Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 1 GB | 82 |
| 2 GB | 150 |
| 4 GB | 280 |
| 10 GB | 550 |
| 20 GB | 950 |
| 50 GB | 1,500 |
| 100 GB | 1,900 |
Night Data Packages (Valid 10 PM – 8 AM)
| Package | Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 200 MB | 3 |
| 500 MB | 5 |
| 1 GB | 10 |
Additional Notes:
- Customers can get monthly data at 0.15 Birr/MB if they exhaust their reserve before the expiration date (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
- Get an additional 20% package resource when purchasing via telebirr (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
- Dial *999# to activate any package (Awajis, 2025)
Ethio Telecom Monthly Unlimited Mobile Package
Ethio Telecom offers a monthly unlimited mobile data package at Br.4,900 (Awajis, 2025). The package includes unlimited data, unlimited all-network calls, and unlimited all-network SMS. However, users should be aware of the Fair Usage Policy (FUP) that may apply after a certain threshold (Awajis, 2025).
Ethio Telecom 5G Mobile and Fixed Wireless Packages
Ethio Telecom launched commercial 5G services and now offers a range of 5G mobile and fixed wireless packages (SDxCentral, 2025). The company’s website lists 5G tariffs starting at $17 per month for up to 150GB of data (SDxCentral, 2025).
5G Volume-Based Mobile Packages
| Package | Monthly Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 200 GB | 1,960 |
| 500 GB | 3,060 |
| 1 TB | 4,370 |
5G Speed-Based Fixed Wireless Internet (True Unlimited)
| Speed | Monthly Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | 6,550 |
| 100 Mbps | 9,800 |
5G VPN Speed-Based Packages (True Unlimited)
| Speed | Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | 6,550 |
| 100 Mbps | 9,800 |
| 200 Mbps | 17,450 |
Ethio Telecom Fixed Broadband Internet (FBB)
Ethio Telecom’s Fixed Broadband Internet service provides high-speed connectivity via copper or fiber connections, available under monthly subscription or 2-year contract plans (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Monthly Fixed Broadband Plans
| Speed | Monthly Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 7 Mbps | 999 |
| 10 Mbps | 1,300 |
| 15 Mbps | 1,875 |
| 20 Mbps | 2,500 |
| 30 Mbps | 3,700 |
| 50 Mbps | 5,900 |
| 100 Mbps | 11,000 |
| 200 Mbps | 21,000 |
| 500 Mbps | 52,000 |
| 1 Gbps | 95,000 |
2-Year Fixed Broadband Contract Plans
| Speed | Price (Birr/month) | Total (Birr) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mbps | 799.20 | 808.20 |
| 10 Mbps | 1,040.00 | 1,049.00 |
| 15 Mbps | 1,500.00 | 1,509.00 |
| 20 Mbps | 2,000.00 | 2,009.00 |
| 50 Mbps | 4,400.00 | — |
Note: Subscribers with access speeds of 15 Mbps or above are eligible for a free monthly recurring mobile package (2GB + 100 minutes) (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
FBB Long-Term Contract Plans (2 Years)
| Speed | Price (Birr) |
|---|---|
| 7 Mbps | 799.20 |
| 10 Mbps | 1,040.00 |
| 15 Mbps | 1,500.00 |
| 20 Mbps | 2,000.00 |
| 50 Mbps | 4,400.00 |
Ethio Telecom WTTx Wireless Broadband
WTTx (Wireless-to-the-x) is a 4G LTE-based broadband access solution that provides fiber-like broadband access for residential customers using wireless networks (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Key Features:
- Best network performance
- Affordable price
- Fast deployment
- Easy maintenance
WTTx Wireless Broadband Modem Price:
- Model: Huawei B535-232A (Indoor device)
- Price: 6,740 Birr / 5,368 Birr (20% off) (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
12-Month Installment Option:
- One-off fee: 850 Birr
- Monthly fee: 404.35 Birr (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
Important Notes:
- The service is available only for residential customers with data-only postpaid options
- Recommended for customers in areas without fixed broadband coverage but with 4G LTE network
- All package prices are monthly-based and recurring
- If packages are not used within the current month, unused package resources roll over to the next month only (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
Safaricom Ethiopia Internet Packages (2026)
Safaricom Ethiopia, the country’s second mobile operator, offers competitive mobile data and fiber broadband packages. As of December 2025, Safaricom announced a data price hike with prices rising between 20% and 67% depending on volume (ITWeb Africa, 2025). Unlimited daily, weekly, and monthly packages increased by 20% to 25%, while long-term plans such as quarterly and half-year bundles rose by approximately 21% (Techpression, 2025).
Safaricom Mobile Data Packages
City data packages (Urban Package) are available with 10GB monthly plans ranging from 300-500 Birr (approximately $35-60 USD), supporting hotspot sharing for multiple users (WeChat Guide, 2026).
Safaricom Prepaid Fiber Broadband
| Speed | Monthly Price (ETB) |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 4,000 |
| 20 Mbps | 8,000 |
| 50 Mbps | 17,000 |
| 75 Mbps | 23,500 |
| 100 Mbps | 30,000 |
| 200 Mbps | 58,000 |
Safaricom Postpaid Fiber Broadband
| Speed | Monthly Price (ETB) |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 4,000 |
| 20 Mbps | 8,000 |
| 50 Mbps | 17,000 |
| 75 Mbps | 23,500 |
| 100 Mbps | 30,000 |
| 200 Mbps | 58,000 |
Safaricom Fiber Dedicated Internet
| Speed | Monthly Price (ETB) |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 20,000 |
| 20 Mbps | 40,000 |
| 50 Mbps | 85,000 |
| 75 Mbps | 120,000 |
| 100 Mbps | 150,000 |
| 200 Mbps | 260,000 |
Safaricom Tokenized Wi-Fi (Pay-As-You-Go)
In January 2026, Safaricom announced plans to roll out tokenized Wi-Fi with hourly and daily plans in Ethiopia (Business Daily Africa, 2026). The service offers pay-as-you-go broadband access on an hourly, daily, and weekly basis, targeting users who need heavy internet access for short periods but do not want to commit to monthly subscriptions (Business Daily Africa, 2026). The service will be launched in both Kenya and Ethiopia (Business Daily Africa, 2026).
Safaricom Bet-WiFi (Fibre-to-the-Home)
In April 2026, Safaricom Ethiopia officially relaunched its Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) service under the new brand name Bet-WiFi, supported by the new Wullo Package (Africa Digest News, 2026). This marks the next phase in Safaricom’s connectivity strategy for Ethiopia.
Ethio Telecom International Visitor Plan (Tourist SIM)
Ethio Telecom offers dedicated International Visitor Plans for tourists and travelers, available at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and other locations (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
| Plan | Price | Data | Calls | SMS | International Voice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $10/€ | 30 GB | 300 min | 300 | — |
| Bi-Weekly | $20/€ | 60 GB | 300 min | 300 | 30 min |
| Monthly | $40/€ | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 90 min |
Note: All prices are tax-inclusive. The international voice minutes can be used for calls to over 130 countries (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Ethio Telecom teleStream and Zero-Touch Broadband
In February 2026, Ethio Telecom unveiled teleStream, a new internet-based content streaming platform, alongside a fully digitalized fixed broadband service powered by fiber infrastructure and Zero-touch operations (Ethio Negari, 2026). The launch forms part of the company’s broader “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy (Ethio Negari, 2026).
teleStream Features:
- Currently offers more than 60 live TV channels and over 350 video-on-demand (VOD) titles (Ethio Negari, 2026)
- Accessible via fixed broadband or SIM card using a Set Top Box (STB) (Ethio Negari, 2026)
- Provides low latency and high-definition streaming not affected by weather conditions (Ethio Negari, 2026)
- Hosted on the company’s local telecloud system and integrated with telebirr digital payment platform (Ethio Negari, 2026)
Zero-Touch Broadband:
- Allows customers to request services, register faults, and make payments digitally via the telebirr SuperApp (Ethio Negari, 2026)
- Eliminates the need to visit service centres (Ethio Negari, 2026)
- Ethio Telecom has built over 14,413 kilometers of metro fiber infrastructure to support these services (Ethio Negari, 2026)
Activation Codes and USSD
Ethio Telecom Activation Codes
- Dial *999# to activate mobile data packages (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
- Dial *999# for package offers (Enter 1 for package offer, Enter 1 for yourself, Enter 2 for internet package) (Awajis, 2025)
- Dial *805# for detailed data usage reports (WeChat Guide, 2026)
- Call 994 or send SMS to 8994 for customer support (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
- Download the My Ethio Telecom app (currently only available for Android) to manage your plan (WeChat Guide, 2026)
Safaricom Ethiopia Activation Codes
- Dial *777# to subscribe to packages (Ethio Telecom, 2026)
- Dial *888# to check real-time data consumption and purchase new packages (WeChat Guide, 2026)
- Send BAL to *704# to set balance reminders (WeChat Guide, 2026)
Understanding “Unlimited” Packages: Fair Usage Policy
Both Ethio Telecom and Safaricom offer “unlimited” packages, but these come with Fair Usage Policies (FUPs) that may restrict speeds after a certain threshold (Medium, 2025).
What to know about Ethio Telecom unlimited packages:
- The monthly unlimited mobile package is priced at Br.4,900 (Awajis, 2025)
- Monthly 5G unlimited mobile package: Br.2,250 with FUP after 400 GB (Apex Business, 2024)
- Some users report speeds dropping to 0.03 MB/s download under the FUP (LinkedIn, 2023)
- The “unlimited” label may have secret thresholds — users have reported speed cuts after crossing certain usage limits (Medium, 2025)
What to know about Safaricom unlimited packages:
- Unlimited daily, weekly, and monthly packages increased by 20-25% in late 2025 (Techpression, 2025)
- Quarterly unlimited plans: 4,250 Birr (The Free Library, 2025)
- Semi-annual unlimited plans: 8,500 Birr (The Free Library, 2025)
Comparison: Ethio Telecom vs Safaricom Ethiopia
| Feature | Ethio Telecom | Safaricom Ethiopia |
|---|---|---|
| Type | State-owned | Private (Safaricom Group) |
| Coverage | Extensive nationwide (Wavelink Networks, 2026) | 4G nationwide, 5G in major cities (MyBestSIM, 2026) |
| Mobile Data (Monthly) | 1GB: Br.82, 20GB: Br.950, 100GB: Br.1,900 (Ethio Telecom, 2026) | 10GB: 300-500 ETB (WeChat Guide, 2026) |
| Monthly Unlimited Mobile | Br.4,900 (Awajis, 2025) | Available (pricing varies) |
| 5G Mobile | 200GB: Br.1,960, 500GB: Br.3,060 (Ethio Telecom, 2026) | Available in major cities |
| Fiber Broadband (10 Mbps) | Br.1,300/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026) | 4,000 ETB/month (Safaricom Ethiopia, 2026) |
| Fiber Broadband (50 Mbps) | Br.5,900/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026) | 17,000 ETB/month (Safaricom Ethiopia, 2026) |
| USSD Code | *999# (Ethio Telecom, 2026) | *777# (Ethio Telecom, 2026) |
| Tourist Plan | Weekly $10, Monthly $40 (Ethio Telecom, 2026) | Tourist SIM available (TravelTomTom, 2026) |
Troubleshooting Table
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t activate data package | Insufficient balance | Recharge your account and try again |
| USSD code not working | Wrong code or network issue | Use *999# for Ethio Telecom, *777# for Safaricom (Ethio Telecom, 2026) |
| Slow internet after unlimited package | Fair Usage Policy (FUP) triggered (Medium, 2025) | Wait for the billing cycle to reset or upgrade to a higher-tier package |
| Data not working after activation | APN settings incorrect | Set APN to “ethiotelecom” for Ethio Telecom or check Safaricom APN settings |
| Package not showing in My Ethio Telecom app | App compatibility issue | The app is currently only available for Android (WeChat Guide, 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Ethiopia internet packages in 2026?
The best package depends on your needs. For light users, Ethio Telecom’s 1GB monthly at Br.82 or 10GB at Br.550 are good options (Ethio Telecom, 2026). For heavy users, consider Ethio Telecom’s 100GB at Br.1,900 or the monthly unlimited at Br.4,900 (Awajis, 2025). For businesses, Ethio Telecom’s fixed broadband with speeds up to 1 Gbps is available (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Does Ethio Telecom offer a 2-year unlimited internet package?
Yes. Ethio Telecom offers 2-year Fixed Broadband Contract Plans with unlimited data at speeds ranging from 7 Mbps to 50 Mbps (Ethio Telecom, 2026). The 7 Mbps plan costs Br.799.20/month under the 2-year contract, while the 50 Mbps plan costs Br.4,400/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
What is the price of Ethio Telecom’s monthly unlimited internet package?
Ethio Telecom’s monthly unlimited mobile data package is priced at Br.4,900 (Awajis, 2025). The monthly 5G unlimited mobile package with FUP after 400GB is priced at Br.2,250 (Apex Business, 2024). Fixed broadband monthly unlimited plans start at Br.999 for 7 Mbps (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Does Safaricom Ethiopia offer unlimited internet packages?
Yes. Safaricom Ethiopia offers unlimited daily, weekly, and monthly packages. Following the December 2025 price adjustments, unlimited packages increased by 20-25% (Techpression, 2025). Quarterly unlimited plans are priced at 4,250 Birr and semi-annual plans at 8,500 Birr (The Free Library, 2025).
How do I activate Ethio Telecom internet packages?
Dial *999# from your Ethio Telecom SIM. Select 1 for package offers, 1 for yourself, and 2 for internet package (Awajis, 2025). You can also use the My Ethio Telecom app or telebirr to purchase packages (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
What is the Safaricom Ethiopia activation code?
Dial *777# to subscribe to Safaricom packages (Ethio Telecom, 2026). Dial *888# to check real-time data consumption and purchase new packages (WeChat Guide, 2026). Send BAL to *704# to set balance reminders (WeChat Guide, 2026).
What is the Ethio Telecom tourist SIM package?
Ethio Telecom offers International Visitor Plans: $10/€ for 30GB (7 days), $20/€ for 60GB (15 days), and $40/€ for unlimited data (30 days) with unlimited calls and 90 minutes international voice (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Is 5G available in Ethiopia?
Yes. 5G is now available in major cities including Addis Ababa (MyBestSIM, 2026). Ethio Telecom offers 5G mobile and fixed wireless packages starting at 200GB for Br.1,960/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
Key Takeaways
- Ethiopia has two major operators: Ethio Telecom (state-owned) and Safaricom Ethiopia, both offering 4G nationwide with 5G in major cities (MyBestSIM, 2026).
- Ethio Telecom’s monthly unlimited mobile data is available at Br.4,900, with 5G speed-based fixed wireless plans starting at 50 Mbps for Br.6,550/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026; Awajis, 2025).
- Ethio Telecom Fixed Broadband (FBB) 2-year contract plans start at 7 Mbps for Br.799.20/month, with speeds up to 500 Mbps for Br.52,000/month (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
- Safaricom Ethiopia offers prepaid fiber broadband starting at 10 Mbps for 4,000 ETB/month, with tokenized Wi-Fi hourly/daily plans launching in 2026 (Safaricom Ethiopia, 2026; Business Daily Africa, 2026).
- Ethio Telecom’s International Visitor Plan includes 30-day unlimited data at $40/€ with 90 minutes international voice (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
- Night data packages are available from 10 PM to 8 AM, with Ethio Telecom offering 1GB for Br.10 (Ethio Telecom, 2026).
- “Unlimited” packages from both operators come with Fair Usage Policies (FUPs) that may restrict speeds after certain thresholds (Medium, 2025).