Safaricom Ethiopia is celebrating five years since it was awarded a full-service Unified Telecommunications Service License by the Government of Ethiopia on 9 July 2021, having crossed the 15 million mark in 90-day active subscribers over that period.
This achievement comes fewer than four years after the company launched commercial operations in October 2022, following an initial phase dedicated to setting up the business, rolling out its network, and establishing the sales and distribution infrastructure needed to reach customers nationwide.
Reaching 15 million 90-day active subscribers within four years of going live ranks among the fastest customer growth trajectories seen among new telecom operators building their networks and customer bases from scratch.
“Since receiving our license, we have built more than 3,500 network sites, with our network now reaching around 60% of the country’s population. All our sites are 4G-enabled and 5G-ready, making our network state-of-the-art. This represents one of the fastest network rollouts by a greenfield telecom operator in Africa, and one of the fastest globally for a new entrant building a nationwide network from scratch.” Said Wim Vanhelleputte, Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom Ethiopia
The company’s network now spans the country, extending high-quality connectivity to smaller towns and communities and enabling more Ethiopians to take part in the digital economy.
Safaricom Ethiopia’s rapid expansion is notable across the continent, having built a subscriber base of over 15 million 90-day active users and more than 3,500 network sites within five years of receiving its license.
This fast-growing customer base and business momentum are also moving Safaricom Ethiopia closer to financial breakeven. Following five years of substantial investment in network infrastructure, distribution, technology, and operations, the company is nearing breakeven as its expanding customer base and revenues continue to strengthen its position.
The opening up of Ethiopia’s telecommunications sector has also left a significant mark on the broader economy and digital ecosystem. Over the last five years, connectivity has grown, digitisation has picked up pace, internet speeds and data usage have risen sharply, and digital payments have spread across the country.
“We have also witnessed the emergence of world-class talent in information technology in Ethiopia, and we have played our part in supporting that journey. Beyond the impact of our core business, we have directly invested ETB 139 million in community development and support, while our shareholders and partners have contributed an additional ETB 545 million. This brings the total investment in communities to ETB 684 million over the past four years of our operations.” Said Wim
Safaricom’s entry into the Ethiopian market has thus made an impact on multiple fronts — expanding connectivity, driving digital financial inclusion, supporting communities, nurturing local talent, and contributing to the country’s broader digital transformation.
