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Ethiopia eSIM
A 5 GB Ethiopia eSIM costs £37.99 for 30 days on Safaricom with 5G. Plans start at £8.99 for 1 GB. Delivered by email in seconds.
From Addis Ababa to Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Axum, your eSIM runs on Safaricom, so you can message on WhatsApp or Telegram, check maps and plan each day's route without any fuss. Pack your camera and enjoy the trip.
- 5G and 4G
- 1 network: Safaricom
- Top up anytime
- Instant email delivery
Your Ethiopia eSIM in two questions
Which Ethiopia eSIM plan do I need?
Match how long you'll stay and how you'll use your phone to the plan that fits your trip.
- A city break in Addis Ababa: 3 days of maps, messages, social media and music suits 3 GB for 15 days.
- A fortnight touring Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Axum: 14 days of maps, messages and social media across those towns suits 10 GB for 30 days.
- A month-long stay: 30 days of messaging, maps, social media, music and some video suits 20 GB for 30 days.
- A week of heavy use: Streaming and hotspot sharing suits 2 GB a day for 7 days.
Every plan can be topped up if your trip grows, so you can add more data on the road.
All 41 Ethiopia eSIM plans
Prices include any taxes. Price per GB shown so you can compare at a glance.
| Data | Valid for | Price | Per GB | Top-up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | £8.99 / €10.99 / $11.99 | £8.99 / €10.99 / $11.99 | Choose | ||
| 3 GB · 15 days | £22.99 / €27.99 / $29.99 | £7.66 / €9.33 / $10.00 | Choose | ||
| 3 GB · 30 days | £24.99 / €28.99 / $31.99 | £8.33 / €9.66 / $10.66 | Choose | ||
| 5 GB · 30 days | £37.99 / €44.99 / $48.99 | £7.60 / €9.00 / $9.80 | Choose | ||
| 10 GB · 30 days | £68.99 / €81.99 / $88.99 | £6.90 / €8.20 / $8.90 | Choose | ||
| 20 GB · 30 days | £140.99 / €167.99 / $182.99 | £7.05 / €8.40 / $9.15 | Choose |
Networks your Ethiopia eSIM uses
Your eSIM joins this local network automatically, wherever you are in Ethiopia.
| Country | Networks | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | Safaricom | 5G |
Good to know
- Data only: your own number keeps working for calls and texts
- Hotspot works where your phone and the network allow it
- Plans start when you first connect; install within 180 days
- Your data routes through United Kingdom, so some sites may show that country
- Top up the same eSIM any time, no new QR code
Will my eSIM have signal in Ethiopia?
Your eSIM joins Safaricom, which has 5G in Ethiopia. Your phone picks the network by itself, so there's nothing to set up once you land. Addis Ababa and larger towns are covered, but signal is patchy in remote and mountain areas, so download your maps before you head into the hills.
Your data reaches the internet through the United Kingdom, a normal setup for travel eSIMs. You can read more in how IP addresses work abroad. Daily plans slow to 1 Mbps once you've used the day's allowance.
How much data do you need in Ethiopia?
Light: maps, messages, email (about 0.25 GB a day). Standard: plus social, music, some video (about 0.7 GB a day). Heavy: plus streaming, video calls, hotspot (about 1.8 GB a day).
3 days
- Light · about 800 MB1 GB · 7 days · £8.99 / €10.99 / $11.99
- Standard · about 2 GB3 GB · 15 days · £22.99 / €27.99 / $29.99
- Heavy · about 5 GB2 GB a day · 3 days · £53.99 / €63.99 / $69.99
7 days
- Light · about 2 GB3 GB · 15 days · £22.99 / €27.99 / $29.99
- Standard · about 5 GB5 GB · 30 days · £37.99 / €44.99 / $48.99
- Heavy · about 13 GB2 GB a day · 7 days · £72.99 / €87.49 / $94.99
14 days
- Light · about 4 GB5 GB · 30 days · £37.99 / €44.99 / $48.99
- Standard · about 10 GB1 GB a day · 15 days · £57.49 / €68.99 / $74.99
- Heavy · about 25 GB2 GB a day · 15 days · £108.99 / €130.99 / $141.99
30 days
- Light · about 8 GB10 GB · 30 days · £68.99 / €81.99 / $88.99
- Standard · about 21 GB1 GB a day · 30 days · £114.99 / €137.49 / $149.49
- Heavy · about 54 GB2 GB a day · 30 days · £217.99 / €260.99 / $282.99
How to set up your Ethiopia eSIM
Install at home
On Wi-Fi, tap Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+), scan the QR code, or type the two codes from your email.
Switch on when you land
Turn on your eSIM line, choose it for mobile data and switch Data Roaming on for that line.
You're online
Your phone joins Safaricom and your plan starts. Check data left on your eSIM page.
Using your phone in Ethiopia: data tips
- Arrive and switch on: At Addis Ababa Bole (ADD), turn on your eSIM and switch on data roaming for the eSIM line, using the data roaming guide.
- Set up at home: Install your eSIM on Wi-Fi before you fly, and leave it off until you land. Your eSIM runs on Safaricom, which offers 5G, and standard use is about 0.7 GB a day.
- Stay in touch: Telegram and WhatsApp are the messaging apps to know. Your home number stays on for calls and texts, and the WhatsApp guide explains how to keep both working.
- Blocked at times: At times of unrest, social media and messaging apps can be blocked. A United Kingdom IP address may help with that.
- Good to know: Internet access can be slowed or cut in some regions during unrest, so don't rely on it for every step of your trip.
Ethiopia eSIM questions
How much is an eSIM for Ethiopia?
Ethiopia eSIMs start at £8.99 for 1 GB over 7 days. A 5 GB plan for 30 days costs £37.99. Prices include any taxes and show in pounds, euros or dollars.
Which networks does the Ethiopia eSIM use?
Your eSIM connects to Safaricom in Ethiopia, with 5G where the network has it. Your phone picks the strongest signal automatically.
When does my Ethiopia eSIM start?
Most plans start the moment your eSIM first connects to a network in Ethiopia, so you can buy and install it at home before you fly. Install it within 180 days of buying.
Can I top up my Ethiopia eSIM?
Yes. Most Ethiopia plans can be topped up from your eSIM page in two taps, with no new QR code. The plan table on this page shows which ones.
Why does my IP address show another country?
Ethiopia plans route your data through United Kingdom, a normal setup for travel eSIMs. Websites and apps may show that country's content; your speed and coverage in Ethiopia are not affected.
Does it come with a phone number?
Every eSIMology plan is data only. Keep your own SIM switched on for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp, FaceTime or any calling app over your eSIM's data.
What if my plans change?
Cancel an eSIM you haven't installed within 30 days for a full refund to your card, in two taps from your eSIM page.
Can I use WhatsApp in Ethiopia?
Yes. WhatsApp and Telegram are the messaging apps used in Ethiopia, so they're the first ones to open once you land in Addis Ababa. Set them up at home before you fly.
Is there 5G in Ethiopia?
Yes, Safaricom runs 5G in Ethiopia. If your phone supports 5G, it can use it where the Safaricom network reaches, so check your phone's settings after you land.
Can I use my eSIM at Addis Ababa Bole airport?
Addis Ababa Bole (ADD) is where you'll land, so install your eSIM before you fly. Once you've landed, switch on data roaming, then open your maps for the trip into town.
Should I download maps for Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Axum?
Yes, download offline maps for Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Axum before you set off. Then you can find your way around each town even if the signal drops, and you'll use less of your data.
Can I use my eSIM as a hotspot in Ethiopia?
Yes, you can share your eSIM data as a hotspot, but it goes quickly. Heavy use, including streaming and hotspot, is about 1.8 GB a day, so keep an eye on your allowance.
Will social media and messaging apps be blocked in Ethiopia?
Yes, they can be, at times of unrest. Internet access can also be slowed or cut in some regions, so check the news before you travel. Agree with home how you'll stay in touch if that happens.
Ready for Ethiopia?
Buy now, install today, and your plan waits until you land. Full refund if not installed.