Ethiopia’s bold digital transformation strategy is positioning the nation to lead Africa’s tech revolution. With a surge in nationwide technology investment and innovation, Ethiopia is quickly proving itself a serious contender in the race to become the continent’s next tech giant.

But picture this: a country sees massive growth in electric and gas-powered car purchases. Sounds promising, until you realize gas stations and charging hubs haven't kept up. Everyone has a vehicle, but they’re forced to drive across town just to refuel.

That’s the paradox Ethiopia faces today. Over 40 million mobile phone accounts and yet, for many, finding a reliable internet connection always feels out of reach. Despite a rising mobile penetration rate, internet access remains patchy. Routers are often scarce, Public access points are poorly documented. Connectivity exists, but it can be hard to find, especially when and where you need it most.

Truthfully, this need will only continue to grow, as connectivity has proven essential for Ethiopia’s growing youth population. With a total population of nearly 130 million, 45% of the Ethiopian population are under the age of 15, while over 71% are under 30. This surplus of youth hold great promise for a growing tech sector, but will require aggressive measures to ensure they stay connected.

But the problem isn’t only about finding a connection. Even when Ethiopians manage to get online, many face a second hurdle: a lack of digital literacy. For millions, the internet remains unfamiliar territory. A significant portion of the population, especially in rural regions, has never used digital tools beyond simple calls or SMS. According to recent reports, while mobile network coverage now reaches over 95% of the country, the majority of people in these areas still don’t use mobile internet. This is often because they can’t afford devices or simply don’t know how to use them safely. Basic tasks like setting up Wi-Fi, managing passwords, or protecting personal information online can feel intimidating or inaccessible. This digital skills gap is one of the biggest barriers to unlocking Ethiopia’s potential as a connected nation. Without tools and education designed to meet people where they are, even the best infrastructure can fall short of its promise.

My time in Addis Ababa as a diaspora student was often daunting. While many travelers expect to go completely off the grid in developing nations, I didn’t see Addis that way. It felt like a city that should be connected—but finding reliable Wi-Fi proved to be frustratingly elusive. In the summer of 2023, I was handed a cheap mobile hotspot to get by. It was so slow, my Zoom calls constantly lagged or dropped. I ended up withdrawing from both of my summer courses and doubling up over the winter to catch up.

What frustrated me most wasn’t that the internet was unavailable, it was that I never knew where to go. I was often told to try certain cafés or libraries, and that’s normally how finding connection worked: word of mouth. I'd show up somewhere expecting a connection, only to find out it wasn’t working, the network was private, or the place simply had no internet at all.

I always wished I could have known that before making the trip.

Enter YegnaNet: your pocket GPS for internet access.

Where Necessity meets Opportunity

Today, around 36 million Ethiopians use the internet which is still only about 35% of the country’s population. Even for those who are connected, the experience is often inconsistent and poorly documented. For travelers, students, and remote workers, finding reliable Wi-Fi can be a constant challenge that disrupts learning, business, and daily life. These gaps are even more severe in rural communities and among people new to digital tools. Without clear resources or guidance, millions remain effectively offline despite living within network coverage.

Your Gateway to Connection

YegnaNet is a simple but powerful idea: a mobile-first map that helps people locate and share Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere in Ethiopia. It is designed to be crowdsourced, so the community itself can help keep information up to date. It works offline, so users can still access saved maps without a connection, and it’s beginner-friendly for those unfamiliar with technology. Beyond mapping, YegnaNet includes built-in learning modules that teach essential digital literacy skills. This approach supports Ethiopia’s broader push for inclusive, locally relevant digital tools that leave no one behind.

Building Toward Impact

This project is just one small piece of a much larger movement. As Ethiopia invests in connectivity and modern infrastructure, there is a growing need for localized digital tools that reflect how people really live and work. YegnaNet is designed with a mobile-first mindset and aims to empower young people and underserved rural communities to participate fully in the digital economy. By creating tools that meet people where they are—on their phones, in their own languages—this project hopes to help close the digital divide and support the next generation of innovators.

Get Involved, Stay updated.

If you share this vision, I invite you to join me. Developers, diaspora supporters, and testers are all welcome to follow the project’s progress and contribute ideas, code, or feedback. You can explore the open repository and help shape YegnaNet’s next steps. My plan is to release an open-source version, partner with local organizations, and launch editions in Amharic, Tigrinya, Afaan Oromo, and other languages so Ethiopians of all backgrounds can benefit. You can also follow my Hash node page for updates, behind-the-scenes progress, and ways to get involved. Together, we can make Ethiopia’s digital future more accessible, inclusive, and connected.