Get a SIM card
Buy a local SIM at the airport with your passport. Ethiopia has two networks: Ethio Telecom (state-owned, widest coverage, including rural areas) and Safaricom Ethiopia (newer, strongest in cities and along main routes). Many travellers take Safaricom's visitor bundle for a short stay and Ethio Telecom for remote regions.
Local SIM cards
Prices in US dollars with the birr equivalent at today's bank rate (about 162 Br to $1), read on each operator's website.
Safaricom Ethiopia
Mobile money: M-PESA
Strongest in Addis and along main roads. Visitor plans include data, calls, texts and airtime.
Safaricom shop at Bole International Airport (arrivals). Bring your passport.
Visitor plans
- 30 GB · 7 days200 min, 200 SMS, 100 Br airtime$10≈ 1,620 Br
- 60 GB · 7 days300 min, 300 SMS, 300 Br airtime$20≈ 3,230 Br
- 90 GB · 30 days500 min, 500 SMS, 400 Br airtime$30≈ 4,850 Br
Local data bundles
- 10 GB · 7 days400 Br ≈ $2.48
- 20 GB · 7 days600 Br ≈ $3.71
- 25 GB · 30 days1,100 Br ≈ $6.81
- 60 GB · 30 days1,650 Br ≈ $10
Paying with M-PESA gives about 20% more data.
Ethio Telecom
Mobile money: telebirr
The widest coverage, including rural areas. The SIM is free with a visitor plan, and the unlimited data plans are the cheapest option for most visitors.
Ethio Telecom counter at Bole International Airport or any Ethio Telecom shop. Bring your passport.
Visitor plans
- Unlimited data · 7 daysData only$5≈ 810 Br
- Unlimited data · 15 daysData only$10≈ 1,620 Br
- Unlimited data · 30 daysData only$15≈ 2,420 Br
Local data bundles
- 1 GB · 1 day37 Br ≈ $0.23
- 4 GB · 7 days200 Br ≈ $1.24
- 15 GB · 7 days500 Br ≈ $3.10
- 20 GB · 30 days950 Br ≈ $5.88
- 50 GB · 30 days1,500 Br ≈ $9.29
Buy with *999#, the My Ethiotel app or telebirr (10% extra with telebirr).
No satellite phones or Starlink without approvalSatellite phones (including phones with a satellite chip) and Starlink kits need prior approval from INSA and customs, or they're confiscated at the airport. Starlink isn't licensed in Ethiopia.Sources: INSA equipment list (German Embassy) · UK travel adviceOr get an eSIM before you fly
An eSIM works as soon as you land, before you reach a counter. All three use Safaricom's network in Ethiopia and cost more per GB than a local SIM.
- 1 GB· 7 days ·$9≈ 1,450 Br3 GB· 30 days ·$15≈ 2,420 Br5 GB· 30 days ·$21≈ 3,390 Br10 GB· 30 days ·$35≈ 5,650 Br
- 1 GB· 30 days ·$12≈ 1,940 Br2 GB· 15 days ·$23≈ 3,710 Br3 GB· 30 days ·$33.5≈ 5,410 Br
- 1 GB· 3 days ·$12≈ 1,940 Br3 GB· 7 days ·$33.5≈ 5,410 Br
Ethio Telecom also sells its own eSIM, but only at its shops, not online yet; we found no online eSIM from Safaricom. To be connected before you land, use a travel eSIM.
Check balance and recharge
Dial these on your phone; they work without data.
- Check airtime balance *804#Recharge with a voucher *805*voucher number#Buy data and call packages *999#telebirr menu *127#
- Check airtime balance *704#Recharge with a voucher *705*voucher number#Buy and share packages *777#M-PESA menu *733#
Top up from abroad
Friends or family abroad, or you with a foreign bank card, can top up an Ethiopian number online. It adds airtime, not telebirr money.
Good to know
- Bring your passport. Some city shops also ask for a photocopy or a passport photo.
- Staff register the SIM in your name and activate it. Allow 10–30 minutes.
- Test it before you leave: make a call and load a web page.
- Note your new number and how to check your balance.
Questions people ask
What do I need to buy a SIM card in Ethiopia?
Your passport. Staff register the SIM in your name at purchase, and some city shops also ask for a photocopy or a passport photo. Allow 10 to 30 minutes for registration and activation.
Where can I buy a SIM card at Addis Ababa airport?
At Bole Airport, before you leave the terminal. Ethio Telecom has a counter in the baggage hall, and Safaricom Ethiopia has a shop at the airport.
How much is the Safaricom visitor pack in Ethiopia?
Safaricom Ethiopia's visitor packs are paid in USD or EUR at the airport shop: 7 days for $10 (20 GB) or $20 (35 GB), or 30 days for $30 (50 GB) or $40 (65 GB). Each includes call and SMS minutes.
Which has better coverage in Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom or Safaricom?
Ethio Telecom has the widest national coverage, including rural and remote areas. Safaricom Ethiopia is growing and is best in Addis, regional cities and main roads.
Does an eSIM work in Ethiopia?
Yes, international eSIM apps sell data-only plans for Ethiopia that work for maps and messaging. Most give you no local phone number, so you can't receive local SMS codes for ride-hailing apps or telebirr. A physical local SIM is better if you'll book rides or pay by phone.
Is there 4G mobile internet across Ethiopia?
Expect good 4G in Addis Ababa and most regional capitals. Signal drops in mountains, national parks and remote areas such as the Danakil and the Omo Valley, and some areas have no coverage at all, so download an offline map.