Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – November, 2025 – In a groundbreaking fusion of cutting-edge technology and architectural innovation, Shenzhen SHLED Technology Co., Ltd., a leading provider of outdoor architectural media facade lighting solutions, has successfully completed its inaugural project in Ethiopia. The installation of a massive 1,170 square meter P100 4-lamps outdoor flexible LED mesh screen on a prominent building in Addis Ababa marks a significant milestone for the company's expansion into Africa. Spanning 69 meters in length and 17 meters in height, this state-of-the-art media facade not only enhances the city's nighttime skyline but also exemplifies the future of sustainable, non-intrusive building illumination.
The project, located in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's bustling capital, transforms a standard urban structure into a dynamic visual spectacle. By day, the screen blends seamlessly with the building's exterior, maintaining an astonishing level of transparency that allows natural daylight to flood the interior spaces without obstruction. Remarkably, from the outside, passersby can clearly see into the building's interior, preserving the architectural integrity and openness that modern designs demand. At night, the facade comes alive with vibrant, high-resolution media content, creating an immersive light show that captivates locals and tourists alike.
This achievement underscores SHLED's commitment to delivering solutions that harmonize technology with urban environments. As the first such installation in Ethiopia, it sets a new benchmark for architectural lighting in emerging markets, where rapid urbanization calls for innovative, cost-effective, and eco-friendly enhancements to existing infrastructure.
Project Background: Addressing Urban Challenges in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, often referred to as the "political capital of Africa" due to its role as the headquarters of the African Union, is undergoing a transformative phase of urban development. With a population exceeding 5 million and growing infrastructure needs, the city faces challenges in balancing modernization with aesthetic and functional preservation. Traditional outdoor advertising and lighting solutions-such as bulky LED box screens or rigid billboards-often result in visual clutter, increased structural loads, and reduced natural light, which can detract from a building's original design and usability.
SHLED's entry into this market was driven by a partnership with local developers seeking to elevate a key landmark building without compromising its daytime functionality. The project began in June-2025, with SHLED's engineering team collaborating remotely and on-site to customize the solution. The choice of the P100 4-lamp outdoor LED grid screen was deliberate: its pixel pitch of 100mm is optimized for large-scale facades viewed from mid-to-long distances (best at 100-110 meters), ensuring clarity and impact in urban settings where buildings are observed from streets or across plazas.
The installation process itself is a proof of efficiency. The project was completed in less than a month with minimal disruption to building operations. Due to the fact that the facade of this building is not a glass curtain wall and there are people working or living inside, considering these peculiarities, our engineers have come up with a very perfect solution, which is to build a steel frame structure outside the building and lay a grid screen on top of the steel frame structure. This way, the grid screen is at a distance from the building, and people inside will not feel oppressed or dark. This method completely eliminates the client's doubts and makes it an ideal choice for renovating old buildings commonly seen in the eclectic architectural landscape of Addis Ababa.
SHLED's Company Profile: A Leader in Architectural Media facade lighting Solutions
SHLED Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is a high-tech enterprise specializing in outdoor architectural media facades and urban lighting solutions. With 16 years of experience, the company has established itself as a global innovator, exporting to more than 50 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. SHLED's portfolio includes high-transparency flexible mesh screens, underwater IP68 displays, architectural-grade led point lights like the AD14 series for spherical installations, and integrated control systems.
What sets SHLED apart is its relentless focus on R&D. The company holds numerous patents in LED mesh technology, including advancements in transparency, lightweight materials, and intelligent control systems. In 2025 alone, SHLED completed landmark projects such as the 5,000+ square meter underwater mesh screen at Dubai's Global Village for its 30th season and various urban renewal initiatives in United Arab Emirates,Kazakhstan, Singapore,Germany and Brazil, Kuwait . These successes have earned SHLED accolades for sustainability and innovation, aligning with global trends toward energy-efficient urban design.
At the core of SHLED's philosophy is the belief that technology should enhance, not overshadow, architecture. "We don't just light up buildings; we make them breathe and communicate," says a company spokesperson. This ethos is evident in the Ethiopia project, where the P100 mesh screen integrates seamlessly, turning a static facade into a living canvas.
Product Advantages: The P100 4-Lamps Outdoor Led Mesh Screen in Detail
The star of the Addis Ababa project is SHLED's P100 4-lamp outdoor flexible LED mesh screen, a product engineered for demanding outdoor applications. Here's a deep dive into its standout features that made it the perfect choice for this installation:
1.Exceptional Transparency and See-Through Capability: With a physical transparency rate 80% , the P100 screen is virtually invisible during the day. This high transmittance ensures that interior spaces receive unobstructed natural light, reducing energy costs for indoor lighting by up to 15%. Uniquely, the mesh design allows bidirectional visibility-from inside, occupants enjoy clear views of the outside world, while from the exterior, the building's interior remains distinctly visible. This dual transparency addresses a common pain point in traditional media facades, where opaque panels create a "black box" effect, alienating users and detracting from architectural openness.
2.Ultra-Lightweight and Structural-Friendly Design: Weighing only 1.7 kg per square meter , the P100 is one of the lightest media facade solutions available. This minimal weight-less than 1/10th of conventional LED box screens-eliminates the need for additional steel structures, which can add thousands of kilograms and complicate permitting processes. In Addis Ababa, the screen was affixed using corrosion-resistant aluminum clips, ensuring long-term stability without burdening the building's original framework. This feature is particularly advantageous in regions like Ethiopia, where seismic activity and variable weather demand resilient yet non-invasive installations.
3.Superior Brightness and Visual Performance: Equipped with 4-lamp LED modules, The 16-bit grayscale processing and 18K refresh rate ensure smooth, flicker-free playback, ideal for dynamic animations, videos, and graphics. In the Ethiopia project, this translated to crystal-clear displays of cultural motifs, promotional content, and ambient lighting effects, enhancing the building's appeal without visual artifacts. The high contrast ratio, bolstered by the mesh's open structure (which uses ambient light as a natural black background), provides deeper blacks and more vivid colors compared to enclosed screens.
4.Robust Durability and Environmental Adaptability: Rated IP67 for waterproofing and dust resistance, the P100 features full potting encapsulation and anti-UV coatings, protecting against Ethiopia's diverse climate-from dusty dry seasons to heavy rains. The aluminum mounting system offers anti-corrosion properties, ensuring longevity in high-humidity environments. With an operational temperature range of -20°C to +60°C , the screen withstands extreme conditions. Intelligent features like SPI breakpoint resume control mean that a single faulty pixel doesn't affect the entire array, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.
5.Energy Efficiency and Low Maintenance: Consuming just 280-360W per square meter at full brightness, the P100 is 60-70% more efficient than traditional screens, thanks to natural convection cooling that eliminates the need for fans or air conditioning. The modular design allows for sigle lampe replacement units, quick repairs-often completed in under 5 minutes without scaffolding. In Addis Ababa, this translates to near-zero maintenance over five years, with self-cleaning properties from rain and wind further reducing upkeep.
These advantages stem from SHLED's proprietary product line, which incorporates flexible mesh technology. The 4-lamp configuration in the P100 enhances light output while maintaining the grid's open weave, ensuring uniform illumination across the 69m x 17m expanse
Led facade Lighting Solutions Advantages: Tailored Approach for Seamless Integration
SHLED's end-to-end solutions framework was pivotal to the project's success. From initial consultation to post-installation support, the company provided a comprehensive package that addressed Ethiopia's unique logistical and regulatory challenges.
1.Customized Design and Simulation: Using advanced 3D modeling software, SHLED's team simulated the facade's appearance under various lighting conditions, ensuring optimal pixel density for the 69m length. The P100's flexible nature allowed it to conform to the building's subtle curves, avoiding the rigidity issues of box screens.
2.Efficient Installation and Cost Savings: The rollable design enabled transportation in compact volumes, reducing shipping costs from China to Ethiopia. Integrated sub-control boxes (combining power and signal) slashed cabling by 70%, lowering material expenses and simplifying wiring in the building's constrained spaces.
3.Intelligent Control and Content Management: SHLED's self-developed system supports real-time content updates via cloud integration, allowing the building owners to switch between advertising, event promotions, and ambient displays.
4.Sustainability Focus: By preserving daylight and minimizing power draw, the solution aligns with Ethiopia's green building initiatives. The absence of heavy structures reduced the project's carbon footprint during construction, while the screen's long lifespan (over 50,000 hours) ensures minimal e-waste.
5.Local Collaboration and Training: SHLED partnered with Ethiopian engineers, providing on-site training for maintenance and operation. This knowledge transfer empowers local teams, fostering long-term sustainability and opening doors for future projects.
The result? A facade that not only boosts the building's commercial value-through increased foot traffic and advertising revenue-but also contributes to Addis Ababa's vibrant night economy.
Project Impact: Reactions and Broader Implications
The unveiling of the facade has generated widespread acclaim. In a YouTube video released by SHLED titled "From China to Africa: How SHLED Lit Up Ethiopia with 80% Transparency LED Mesh Screen," viewers witness the dramatic transformation. Daytime shots reveal the screen's near-invisibility, with clear views into the building's interior from street level, while nighttime footage showcases explosive colors and fluid animations syncing with the city's pulse. This is revolutionary for African cities! and "The transparency is mind-blowing-no more ugly black screens."
Local stakeholders report a surge in visitor interest, with the building becoming a photo hotspot. For Ethiopia, this project symbolizes technological leapfrogging, bringing world-class media facades to a market hungry for modernization. It aligns with the government's "Digital Ethiopia 2025" initiative, promoting smart infrastructure.
On a global scale, the installation highlights SHLED's prowess in adapting solutions to diverse contexts. As urban populations swell, demand for such non-disruptive enhancements will grow, positioning transparent mesh screens as the go-to for retrofits.
Looking Ahead: SHLED's Vision for Africa and Beyond
This Ethiopia project is just the beginning of SHLED's African expansion. With upcoming participation in ISE 2026 in Barcelona (Booth 8F530, Hall 8.1, February 3-6), the company aims to showcase the led mesh screen outdoor and other innovations to a global audience. Future plans include similar installations in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, tailored to local climates and needs.
In conclusion, SHLED's Addis Ababa project exemplifies how innovative technology can elevate urban landscapes without compromise. The P100 4-lamp mesh screen's advantages-unparalleled transparency, lightweight design, superior performance, durability, and efficiency-combined with SHLED's holistic solutions approach, deliver transformative results. As cities worldwide seek to blend functionality with spectacle, SHLED stands ready to illuminate the path forward.
