Past
National shutdown
Local businesses that rely on connectivity, such as tour operators, were either forced to close, or use VPN to connect to the Internet and access messaging platforms. Some resorted to using business centers at luxury hotels, which appear to still have Internet access. Popular taxi service ZayRide was also affected, leaving its drivers with no work for a week. Press reports, and a source speaking to TechCrunch on background, said Ethiopia’s internet stoppage was done to stop students from cheating on national exams, which took place this week.
Local impact
Local businesses that rely on connectivity, such as tour operators, were either forced to close, or use VPN to connect to the Internet and access messaging platforms. Some resorted to using business centers at luxury hotels, which appear to still have Internet access. Popular taxi service ZayRide was also affected, leaving its drivers with no work for a week. Press reports, and a source speaking to TechCrunch on background, said Ethiopia’s internet stoppage was done to stop students from cheating on national exams, which took place this week.
Other supporting information
The country’s sole Internet provider, Ethio Telecom, cut Internet access on June 10, restoring it with an apology on June 18 but without providing details of the cause of the interruption. Press reports allege that the blackout was a measure to prevent secondary students cheating during the annual national examinations.
Connectivity was partially restored at different times but remained largely off during this period. Whatsapp and Telegram, popular messaging platforms among young Ethiopians, were both inaccessible. Similar shutdowns have happened in 2016 and 2017 during national exams.
This shutdown is corroborated by data from several organizations:
ORACLE INTERNET INTELLIGENCE


CAIDA IODA


GOOGLE TRANSPARENCY REPORT
