M-PESA Lehulum App Down for Ethio Telecom Data Users

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M-PESA Ethiopia has announced that its new telecom-agnostic app, M-PESA Lehulum App, launched on 1 December 2025, is currently inaccessible to users relying on mobile data provided by Ethio Telecom.

The app, approved by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), was designed to allow any Ethiopian to access digital financial services regardless of their SIM card, removing traditional network barriers.

According to the company, customers using Ethio Telecom’s mobile data cannot log in, transact, or retrieve funds through the application.

M-PESA Ethiopia said it is working to maintain access through other channels while resolving the connectivity issue and is engaging regulators urgently to restore full digital reach.

M-PESA Lehulum App, also called M-PESA ለሁሉም, was developed as a fully telco-agnostic mobile money platform.

Users can activate M-PESA Lehulum services by downloading the app from the Google Play Store or App Store, registering with any phone number, and completing verification through the National Digital ID (Fayda) eKYC system.

This onboarding process enables users to start transacting within minutes, without dependence on any specific telecom network.

The platform provides essential financial services, including sending and receiving money, paying bills, purchasing airtime, paying merchants, and accessing M-PESA Overdraft services (Errif Be M-PESA).

It also allows payments via QR code and transfers to banks or other wallets through ETHSwitch integration, creating seamless connectivity across Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem.

“M-PESA ለሁሉም represents our commitment to building a digital financial ecosystem that unlocks opportunity, connects communities, and provides accessible financial services for everyone, everywhere.” said Elsa Muzzolini, CEO of M-PESA Ethiopia.

She added that the platform’s telco-agnostic design ensures all Ethiopians can participate in the digital economy without barriers.

The M-PESA Lehulum App was fully developed in-house by M-PESA technology teams in collaboration with Safaricom Ethiopia, combining local engineering expertise with international digital finance standards.

The company reassured users that full service will be restored once the Ethio Telecom data connectivity issues are resolved.

Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.