Millions of citizens in rural Ethiopia lacked internet access, limiting their ability to benefit from digital government services. The Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) needed a communication system that could bridge this digital divide and deliver services directly to citizens through a more accessible channel SMS.
A robust, scalable National SMS Gateway and Application System was developed to support multilingual, two-way messaging. The platform enables administrators to send real-time updates and allows citizens to query public information using basic mobile phones—ensuring wide coverage and inclusivity.
Over 300 government agencies now use the system to deliver thousands of messages daily, reaching more than 10 million citizens. The gateway has become a national lifeline for public communication—enabling timely updates, rural outreach, and digitally inclusive service delivery.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) envisioned an inclusive digital government where no citizen is left behind—regardless of internet access or device limitations. While online portals like eservices.gov.et were transforming public service delivery, millions still remained disconnected due to limited digital infrastructure.
To close this gap, MInT partnered with 360Ground to build a national SMS messaging platform capable of delivering timely, multilingual, and reliable communication—especially to underserved communities.
With growing demand from ministries, regional bureaus, and local administrations, the system was designed to scale quickly, enabling outreach across the country—from cities like Addis Ababa, Hawassa, and Mekele to remote rural districts.
As part of Ethiopia’s ambitious digital transformation strategy, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) recognized a critical gap: millions of citizens lacked access to internet-enabled services, especially in rural areas. Despite the success of platforms like www.eservices.gov.et, digital inclusion remained out of reach for many.
MInT needed a scalable, multilingual SMS communication system to:
Extend government services to citizens without smartphones or internet access
Enable two-way (pull/push) communication across public agencies
Support high-volume, real-time message delivery and integration with other systems
A mobile-accessible service that allows citizens to send keyword-based SMS commands to retrieve public information such as exam results, currency updates, and service notifications no smartphone or internet required.
A secure web dashboard for government staff to upload recipient lists, personalize messages using dynamic fields, create templates, schedule broadcasts, and track message delivery in real time.
A developer-friendly API that enables other government systems to programmatically send messages, receive delivery reports, and maintain full audit logs—ensuring seamless integration and accountability.
Expanded Access: Over 10 million+ citizens—many in rural or offline areas—now receive government services like exam results, currency updates, and emergency alerts via SMS.
Reliable Outreach: Public institutions can now deliver real-time notifications (e.g., health alerts, service changes, price controls) regardless of device or location.
Agency Empowerment: More than 300 government agencies actively use the platform without needing dedicated infrastructure or support—boosting efficiency and communication capacity.
Scalable Infrastructure: The centralized architecture supports high-volume messaging, multilingual delivery, and secure integrations with external systems.
Equity by Design: Designed to serve all citizens—including those without internet or smartphones—the platform strengthens the foundation for inclusive, accessible e-government.
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