On Friday March 21 2025, at 11:00 EAT (08:00 UTC) the Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter (ISOC Ethiopia) hosts a webinar ‘Digital Parenting Online‘.As technology becomes an integral part of everyday life, parents face new challenges in guiding their children through the digital world. This webinar aims to provide parents, guardians, and educators with practical insights into responsible digital parenting. The session will explore strategies for managing children’s online presence, ensuring digital safety, and fostering a balanced approach to technology use. Experts in child safety, online safety specialists, and digital literacy will share actionable tips to help parents create a safe, productive, and positive digital environment for their children.
SPEAKERS Jennifer Kaberi – Founder Mtoto News (slides) Theorose Elikplim Dzikenu – Research Assistant at Kent State University
Moderator: Dr. Asrat Mulatu – President, Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter
On Tuesday-Thursday 21-23 January 2025 the Internet Development Conference (IDC 2025) will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Organized by the Internet Society under the patronage of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the Internet Development Conference focuses on strengthening Internet infrastructure and regulatory frameworks within the African Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Djibouti.
08:30 Opening Session (yt | txt) H.E. Dr. Belete Molla – Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Technology of FDRE Dr. Asrat Mulatu – President, Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter Demos Kyriacou – Deputy CEO & Chief Operating Officer, Wingu Africa Dr. Emmanuel C. Manasseh, Acting Regional Director, ITU Regional Office – Africa Eng. Balcha Reba, Director General, Ethiopian Communications Authority
11:00 Digital Strategies: Hopes and Accomplishments (yt | txt) Mihret Woodmatas – Senior ICT Expert, African Union Commission Dr. Abiyot Bayou – Senior Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Technology of FDRE
Moderator: Dr. Dawit Bekele, Regional Vice President – Africa, Internet Society
14:00 Regulations to Connect the Unconnected (Parallel Session – Main) (yt | txt) Mavis Maunganidze – Programme Officer, ITU Regional Office- Africa Million Hailemichael – Deputy Director General Ethiopian Communications Authority Barrack Otieno – Chairman, Association of Community Networks in Kenya Joshua Mpairwe – Internet Society Uganda Chapter Rhian Duarte – Senior Manager for Public Affairs, Abrint – Brazilian Association of Internet Service Providers Erkan Satik – Director of Cloud Ecosystem & Alliances, Wingu Africa
Moderator: Robel Kitaba – Network Engineering Expert
14:00 Digitization of the Financial Sector in Ethiopia (Parallel Session – Breakout) (yt | txt) Solomon Damtew – Payment and Settlement Director, National Bank of Ethiopia Melka Girma – COO, Shega Media Beza Mamo – Director, Payment Application, EthSwitch Samrawit Fikru – CEO, Hybrid Designs PLC Seyoum Damtew – Director, Information System Security, CBE
Moderator: Dr. Beakal Gizachew – Assistant Professor, Addis Ababa University
Day 2: 22 January 2025
09:00 Internet Infrastructure Development (yt | txt) Ghislain Nkeramugaba – IXP Development Expert, Internet Society Freddy Mrema – Group Director, Enterprise Sales and Marketing, Wingu Africa Barrack Otieno – Chairman, Association of Community Networks in Kenya Dr. Carlos Rey-Moreno – Co-founder, Zenzeleni Networks Tigest Damtie – CEO, 251 Cloud
Moderator: Dr. Ephrem Teshale – Chief Technology Officer, Zergaw Cloud Service Provider
11:00 Internet Resilience and Regional Integration (yt | txt) Ben Ryall, Edge Strategy Manager, Meta Dr. Amreesh Phokeer, Internet Measurement and Data Expert, Internet Society
Moderator: Kebadu Belachew – Cloud Engineer, Fannie Mae
14:00 Bringing Africa’s Connectivity to The Next Level (Parallel Session – Main) (yt | txt) Steve Song – Senior Director, Infrastructure Mapping and Development, Internet Society Dan York – Senior Advisor, Internet Society David Belson – Head of Data Insight, Cloudflare
Moderator: Meshingo Jack – Government Digital Transformation Advisory, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
14:00 Internet in Education in Ethiopia (Parallel Session – Breakout) (yt | txt) Dr. Muluneh Atinef – ICT and Digital Education, MoE Project Coordinator, eLearning for Strengthening Higher education (eSHE) Mulugeta Assefa – Managing Director, BRDGE Yehalem Abebe – Executive Director, Partners in Education Ethiopia Prof. Meoli Kashorda – Executive Director, KENET
Moderator: Dr Fekade Getahun – Ministry of Innovation and Technology
Day 3: 23 January 2025
09:00 Changing People’s Lives Using the Internet (yt | txttxt) Chris Locke – Managing Director, Internet Society Foundation
Moderator: Yilikal Abate – President ICT-ET
09:30 Reporting of previous day sessions and discussions (yt | txt)
Rapporteur: Yohannes Fassika – ethiotelecom
Moderator: Yilikal Abate – President ICT-ET
11:00 Closing (yt | txt) Dr. Dawit Bekele – Regional VP Africa, Internet Society H.E. Dr. Yeshurun Alemayehu – State Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, FDRE Eng. Balcha Reba – Director General, Ethiopian Communications Authority
On Friday August 2 2024 at 2pm EAT (11:00 UTC) the Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter and Lawyers for Human Rights will host a webinar ‘Workshop on Internet Shutdowns in Ethiopia and Way Forward‘. This event aims to gather a diverse group of experts, advocates, and stakeholders to discuss the multifaceted impacts of Internet disruptions on society, economy, and governance. The workshop will provide a platform for in-depth discussions, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning to mitigate the adverse effects of Internet shutdowns and explore sustainable solutions for maintaining uninterrupted access to digital communication.
SPEAKERS Ameha Mekonnen – Lawyers for Human Rights Mojirayo Oluwatoyin Ogunlana – DiGiCiViC Initiative Brian Tshuma – King’s Institute of Artificial Intelligence Asrat Mulatu Beyene – Addis Ababa Science and Technology University MODERATOR Mesenbet Assefa – Addis Ababa University
On Tuesday 26th May 2020 at 16:00 EAT (13:00 UTC) the Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter (ISOC ET) presents a webinar ‘Introduction to Configuration and Management of HPC Infrastructure‘. Presenter Addisu G. Semie, PhD of Addis Ababa University discuss the basics of building, using, and managing high-performance computing (HPC) – the use of distributed computing facilities for solving problems that need large computing power. HPC generally requires low-latency interconnection networks. The webinar will be conducted in Amharic.
On 3-5 March 2020 the Internet Society, together with its partners, hosts the Ethiopia Internet Development Conference 2020 (EIDC) in Addis Ababa. Recently, the former Ethiopian state monopoly on telecommunication has been abolished. The EIDC is a multi-stakeholder event enabling the local community to prepare and create the foundation for a robust Internet ecosystem in this new post-monopoly era.
On Monday March 2 2020, at 15:00 EAT (12:00 UTC) the Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter (ISOC Ethiopia) will hold a launch event at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa. The chapter has been established by scholars from different disciplines, living and working in different parts of Ethiopia, In support of the Internet Society vision ‘The Internet is for Everyone‘ (ኢንተርኔት ለሁሉም ነው). ISOC Ethiopia’s mission is to promote the development and use of the Internet as a resource to enrich people’s life via an open, secure, trustworthy and affordable Internet. The Chapter welcomes individuals from technical and non-technical backgrounds to join its membership and work towards supporting its objectives.
The report comes up with a number of specific recommendations for regulatory reform to protect user freedom, and also suggests an education program amongst regulators and others on the primacy of usercentricity and transparency in fostering a thriving network, with the consequent economic and social benefits.
Also on May 23, full day conference in Kampala, Uganda discussed the report. Unfortunately,to our knowledge, there is no recording available.
On Friday March 21 2025, at 11:00 EAT (08:00 UTC) the Internet Society Ethiopia Chapter (ISOC Ethiopia) hosts a webinar ‘Digital Parenting Online‘.As technology becomes an integral part of everyday life, parents face new challenges in guiding their children through the digital world. This webinar aims to provide parents, guardians, and educators with practical insights into responsible digital parenting. The session will explore strategies for managing children’s online presence, ensuring digital safety, and fostering a balanced approach to technology use. Experts in child safety, online safety specialists, and digital literacy will share actionable tips to help parents create a safe, productive, and positive digital environment for their children.
