Communication in Ethiopia

Mobile communication has high everyday relevance in Ethiopia. Ethio telecom and Safaricom Ethiopia offer voice calls, internet data and text messaging under the national telecommunications licensing framework. A subscriber identity module, usually called a SIM, links a mobile number to registered identity data. SIM registration follows Directive No. 799/2021 and takes place through an authorized company service point or dealer. Report a lost SIM immediately so the provider can block it. Ethio telecom can be contacted through 994 or 994@ethiotelecom.et; Safaricom Ethiopia uses 700 and also provides written complaint channels such as complaints@safaricom.et. Prices for calls, data, SMS, replacement SIMs and packages depend on the company and selected service. The Ethiopian Communications Authority, or ECA, requires clear information about prices, contracts, cancellation and reconnection through online channels, service centers or short codes. It regulates telecommunications, postal and courier services, numbering, spectrum, service quality, consumer protection, the .et domain and personal data protection. The federal government uses Amharic as a working language, while regional states may designate their own working languages. Public information and provider communications may therefore differ by region. ECA consumer information and contracts are available in Amharic and English, with a regional working language available on request. Government Communication Service and regional Communication Bureaus coordinate public information, but the responsible contact for a request may also be a federal authority, regional office or individual institution. The eServices.gov.et platform supports accounts, identity checks, service searches, status tracking and digital documents for citizens, non-citizens, businesses and organizations. It does not replace every local or institutional communication channel, and access can depend on identity verification, a suitable device, internet connectivity, language and accessibility. Ethiopost is the designated national postal company. Its services include letters, small packets, parcels, express mail, post office boxes and virtual post boxes. Express mail in Ethiopia is available through post offices six days a week and accepts items up to 30 kilograms. Licensed courier companies also offer domestic and international express services. Prices and delivery times vary by service and destination, so the provider should confirm them for the intended item and destination. Communication access also includes consumer and accessibility rights. ECA consumer rights cover basic voice, data and SMS services, reasonable prices, minimum service quality, continuity, advance information about planned interruptions and non-discrimination. Information should be understandable, and print formats can be requested. Ethiopia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and national planning supports sign-language and Braille development, but a nationwide guaranteed communication arrangement cannot be assumed. A person with hearing or visual impairment should clarify the available channel or assistance with the provider or institution in advance. For a service problem, complain first to the company or institution concerned. A licensed telecommunications company has up to 10 working days to resolve a consumer complaint. If the result is unsatisfactory or no resolution arrives, the consumer can submit the matter to ECA within 30 working days. Include the name and contact details, provider, facts, supporting evidence, any loss and the remedy requested. This process applies to disputes covered by the telecommunications consumer framework; postal and courier matters may follow the responsible provider's procedure and the applicable regulator or licensing arrangements.