The introduction of telecommunication in Ethiopia dates back to 1894. In those early years, the new technological scheme contributed to the integration of the Ethiopian society when the extensive open-wire line system was laid out linking the capital with all the important administrative cities of the country. Most of the telecommunication network, however, was completely destroyed during the Italian Fascist aggression when later on Ethiopia had to start the development of its telecommunication facilities all over again.

When the Imperial Telecommunications Board of Ethiopia was established by Proclamation 131/53 in 1953, it was granted full provision of administrative and financial autonomy. The major objectives of the Board were: to undertake the expansion of telecom services through the nation, to represent Ethiopia at all International fora regarding telecom activities (except military communications), to allocate and control all communication frequencies, and to train the required personnel in a way expedient to its operation.

In order to achieve its objectives, the organization had undergone through series of  development programs.

Even though the institution had been granted full autonomy by the above mentioned Proclamation, this organizational right has been violated during the reign of the Military Regime.

Just before the implementation of the seventh Telecom development program(1998-2001), in the Transitional years, several projects have been executed to rehabilitate the network damaged by the 17 years of war during the Military Regime.

• Ethiopian Telecommunication Board (1953)

• Ethiopian Telecommunications Authority (1974)

• Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (1996)