Buying a SIM Card in Ethiopia: Airport and City Options

A local SIM card makes maps, ride apps, hotel calls and everyday travel much easier. This guide explains the two networks, where to buy a SIM, what to bring, how to choose a package and what to do if the line does not work. It does not list prices, because tariffs change often. Check the operator’s current page before you buy.

The two networks

Ethiopia has two mobile operators for visitors to choose from.

• Ethio telecom is the long-established national operator. Its network reaches the most towns and is the safer choice if you plan to travel outside Addis Ababa.
• Safaricom Ethiopia is the newer operator. It launched in Addis Ababa in 2022 and has been expanding city by city, so it works best in the capital and larger towns. Its coverage map is smaller than Ethio telecom’s.

If you will stay mainly in Addis Ababa, either network can work. If you will visit Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar, the Simien Mountains or small towns in the south, Ethio telecom is the safer bet. Ask your hotel which network works best in the area where you are staying.

Where to buy

• At the airport. The arrivals area at Bole has operator counters. Buying here is convenient because the line works when you step out, but hours, queues, stock and package choices vary. If the counters are closed or busy, you can buy in the city on the first morning.
• In the city. An operator’s service centre gives you more time to compare options and solve registration problems. Staff there can usually set up the SIM and explain the packages.
• Authorised retailers. Small shops sell and top up SIMs too. Buy only from an authorised shop, and avoid anyone who approaches you in the street with a SIM.

What to bring

Ethio telecom’s guidance for new customers lists a passport, a kebele ID or a driving licence as accepted identity documents. Visitors should bring their passport. Registration includes a customer agreement, so check that your name and passport number are entered correctly. Keep your receipt until the line works.

Before you leave the shop

1. Ask the seller to insert the SIM and activate it.
2. Test a call, a text message and mobile data while you are still at the counter.
3. Save the number, the recharge instructions and the support contact.
4. Check that your phone is unlocked. A locked phone will not accept a local SIM.
5. Ask how to check your balance and how to top up.

Choosing a package

Start with the amount of data you expect to use rather than the largest bundle. Short visits often need only a small daily or weekly package, while remote work, video calls and hotspot use drain data fast. Check the current Ethio telecom data package page or the Safaricom Ethiopia site for daily, weekly and monthly options. Download large files and app updates on hotel Wi-Fi.

eSIMs

Some visitors prefer an eSIM that they install before they fly. International eSIM sellers usually connect to Safaricom Ethiopia, so the coverage is limited to the places that network serves. Ethio telecom offers its own eSIM, but it has generally been issued through its shops rather than online. If your trip includes remote areas, a physical Ethio telecom SIM is the more reliable plan. Whatever you choose, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.

Mobile money

Both operators run mobile-money services: Telebirr belongs to Ethio telecom and M-Pesa to Safaricom. Registration rules can differ for foreign visitors, so do not plan your trip around paying by phone. Carry cash and a card as well. See using foreign cards and ATMs and exchanging money.

Dual-SIM phones and your home number

If your phone has two SIM slots, keep your home SIM for important messages, such as bank codes, and use the Ethiopian line for data and local calls. Turn off data roaming on the home line so it does not create unexpected charges. If your phone has only one slot, tell your bank and contacts how to reach you by other means.

Connection tips

• Mobile data can be slow in busy areas and in the mountains, and internet access has at times been restricted in parts of the country. Download offline maps and save your bookings before you leave Wi-Fi.
• A power bank helps, as power cuts happen.
• Messaging apps work well over data, but do not count on a video call from remote places.

If the line does not work

Go back to the seller or an operator service centre with your passport and receipt, and ask them to check your registration and activation. Use the operator’s current support channels rather than an old phone number copied from an outdated guide. Before you travel on, see the arrival checklist and your first two hours at Bole airport.

Last checked: 25 October 2026. Sources: Ethio telecom and Safaricom Ethiopia. Package and coverage details change, so confirm them with the operator.