Safaricom Ethiopia has reached 10 million 90-day active customers, just four years after launching commercial operations in the East African nation.
The operator gained its mobile license in 2021 (and mobile money license in 2023) and has since invested over ETB 300 billion (USD 2.2 billion) into its Ethiopian unit. Its 4G network currently covers 55% of Ethiopia’s 100-million-strong population.
“Achieving an active customer base of 10 million is a significant milestone for us, but it also brings with it great responsibility,” said Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia. ”Behind each SIM card, there is an individual, a family, a business, and a future. Our mission is to serve, enable, and support Ethiopia’s development through world-class connectivity and innovation.”
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The network comprises 3,141 live cell sites across more than 150 locations, serving 7.1 million active mobile users who consume an average of 6.5 GB per month.
Safaricom Ethiopia repotted that it has created 20,000 indirect jobs and hired 900 staff, underlining its broader contribution to the national economy. Ethiopia began opening its economy to private investment in the 1990s, eventually putting telecom licenses up for bid as part of wider liberalization efforts.
“Our mission is to serve, enable, and support Ethiopia’s development through world-class connectivity and innovation. We are proud of our accomplishments and remain committed to further connecting people, creating opportunities, and contributing to a truly Digital Ethiopia,” added Vanhelleputte.
These licenses were a coveted prize for Pan-African operator groups seeking new growth opportunities in a maturing African telecoms landscape. Safaricom’s biggest rivals on the continent were also striving to enter the Ethiopian market.
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According to former Orange MEA CEO, Jerome Henique, the agreement did not materialize because a 45% stake would not have granted Orange the level of control required to implement its preferred operating model.
