Addis Ababa Airport: Is There Reliable Wi-Fi?

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia has free Wi-Fi available for its customers. However, the connection is unreliable and slow, and there have been reports of it not working at all. The airport is currently undergoing an expansion project, incorporating more digital features to become the best connecting hub in Africa.

Free Wi-Fi at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

As of October 2017, free Wi-Fi is available at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. This was announced by the Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest airline in Africa, and the Ethiopian Airports Services as part of the airport's expansion project. The goal is to make the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport the best connecting hub in Africa by incorporating more digital features and improving the overall passenger experience.

To connect to the free Wi-Fi, follow these steps:

• Connect to the Wi-Fi ID "Ethiopian Airports WI_FI".
• If you are not automatically redirected to the Wi-Fi portal, open a browser (preferably Chrome) on your device and go to http://testbole.com.
• You should be redirected to a registration page. Follow the on-screen instructions to get online.

Please note that while the airport does offer free Wi-Fi, some travellers have reported that the connection can be unreliable or slow. Additionally, the Wi-Fi may not work in all areas of the airport, such as the parking area.

If you are looking for more reliable internet access, there are internet cafes and restaurants in the airport that offer "free" Wi-Fi for their guests. However, keep in mind that these may come with additional costs or require a purchase.

Connection issues with the airport Wi-Fi

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport does offer free Wi-Fi to its customers. However, there have been reports of connection issues with the airport's Wi-Fi. Some travellers have reported that the Wi-Fi is unreliable and slow, with issues of connectivity in certain areas of the airport.

To connect to the Wi-Fi, follow these steps:

• Connect to the Wi-Fi ID "Ethiopian Airports WI_FI".
• If you are not automatically redirected to the Wi-Fi portal, open a browser (preferably Chrome) on your device and type "http://testbole.com" and press Enter.
• You should then be redirected to a registration page. Follow the on-screen instructions to get online.

Despite the availability of Wi-Fi at the airport, travellers have reported issues with the reliability of the connection. Some have mentioned that the Wi-Fi is slow or not working at all, particularly in Terminal 2. It seems that the problem may be due to too many people trying to connect at once, overloading the network.

Additionally, some travellers have reported that the Wi-Fi is only accessible in certain areas of the airport, such as the departure gates or lounges. It is also worth noting that the airport itself is reported to be crowded, chaotic, and noisy, which may contribute to the difficulty in connecting to the Wi-Fi.

To improve your chances of connecting to the Wi-Fi successfully, try moving closer to the departure gates or lounges, or finding a less crowded area of the airport. Additionally, if you are having trouble connecting automatically, try following the manual connection steps outlined above.

While the airport's Wi-Fi connection issues may cause frustration, it is worth noting that Ethiopia has low internet penetration across the country, and the government has been working to improve digital access and enhance the overall passenger experience at the airport.

The process to connect to the airport Wi-Fi

To connect to the airport Wi-Fi at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, follow these steps:

• Enable Wi-Fi on your device and connect to the network named "Ethiopian Airports WI_FI".
• If your device does not redirect you automatically, open a web browser (preferably Chrome) and go to http://testbole.com.
• You should now be on a registration page. Follow the on-screen instructions to register and access the internet.

Please note that while Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport, including in lounges and gate areas, it may not always be reliable or fast, especially during peak times when many people are trying to connect. The service is free for the first two hours, after which you will need to pay for additional usage.

The speed of the airport Wi-Fi

The speed of the Wi-Fi at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has been described as "slow" and "quite slow". However, one person who used the Wi-Fi in 2019 said it had "gotten better and a bit faster".

The Wi-Fi is free and was introduced in October 2017 as part of the airport's expansion project, with the aim of making it the best connecting hub in Africa. However, it has been described as "not very reliable" and "usually not working". In fact, one person said that in Terminal 2, it was "almost not working" because too many people were trying to connect.

To connect to the Wi-Fi, you need to connect to the Wi-Fi ID "Ethiopian Airports WI_FI". If you aren't redirected automatically, open a browser (preferably Chrome) on your device and type "http://testbole.com" and press enter. You should then be redirected to a registration page. Follow the instructions on the screen to get online.

Other Wi-Fi options at the airport

As of October 2017, free Wi-Fi is available at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. To connect, find the Wi-Fi ID "Ethiopian Airports WI_FI", open a browser (preferably Chrome) and type "http://testbole.com" and press enter. You should then be redirected to a registration page. Follow the instructions on the screen to get online. However, the connection is quite slow and unreliable.

If you are unable to connect to the airport Wi-Fi, there are a few other options available. Some bars and restaurants at the airport offer free Wi-Fi for their guests, although it may not always work. There is also an internet cafe at the airport, but it has been reported to have ridiculous prices.

If you are a member of the Star Alliance or Sheba Miles club, you can access free Wi-Fi in the respective lounges. Additionally, there are pay-per-use and lounge membership programs available for certain lounges, such as the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 2.

Frequently asked questions