Ethio Telecom, Mastercard drive partnership on cross-border digital financial solutions

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Ethio telecom and Mastercard have reinforced their strategic partnership following high-level discussions aimed at advancing international digital financial services and expanding Ethiopia’s role in the global digital economy.

The meeting brought together Ethio telecom Chief Executive Officer Frehiwot Tamru and a Mastercard delegation led by Shehryar Ali. The session focused on reviewing the progress of ongoing initiatives while identifying new opportunities to deploy future-ready financial solutions.

Both parties highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-border payments and remittance services, with an emphasis on enhancing value for businesses and consumers. Discussions also explored ways to integrate Ethio telecom’s digital infrastructure with Mastercard’s global payments network to support seamless international financial transactions.

Ethio telecom noted that its digital ecosystem, underpinned by large-scale telecom infrastructure and its mobile money platform telebirr, which serves more than 58 million users, positions the company to scale international financial services. The collaboration is expected to support the development of next-generation fintech solutions, improve multi-currency liquidity capabilities, and facilitate more efficient global financial flows.

Mastercard commended the progress achieved, citing Ethio telecom’s expanding customer base and innovation-driven approach as key drivers of market-oriented financial solutions. The company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting secure and scalable digital payment systems aligned with global standards.

Both organizations agreed to accelerate implementation by deepening collaboration, streamlining integration processes, and expediting product development timelines. The partnership forms part of broader efforts to promote financial inclusion, enhance digital connectivity, and unlock new economic opportunities within Ethiopia and beyond.