Safaricom Ethiopia has surpassed 15 million active subscribers, a milestone that underscores the rapid growth of Ethiopia’s second telecom operator as it edges closer to profitability less than four years after launching commercial services.
The company reached the milestone as it marked five years since receiving a nationwide telecommunications license from the Ethiopian government in July 2021. Commercial operations began in October 2022 after more than a year of building network infrastructure and distribution channels.
The operator said it has built more than 3,500 mobile sites covering about 60% of Ethiopia’s population, with every site supporting 4G services and ready for 5G deployment. The rollout ranks among the fastest by a greenfield telecom operator in Africa, Chief Executive Officer Wim Vanhelleputte said.
“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,” Vanhelleputte said.
Safaricom Ethiopia entered one of Africa’s last liberalised telecom markets to compete with state-owned Ethio Telecom, investing heavily in infrastructure, technology and distribution to establish a nationwide network from scratch.
Its rapid subscriber growth is helping narrow losses after years of investment. The company said it is approaching financial break-even as customer numbers and revenues continue to rise.
The expansion has also contributed to Ethiopia’s broader digital transformation, accelerating internet access, mobile data usage and digital payments while extending connectivity to previously underserved communities.
Beyond its commercial operations, Safaricom Ethiopia said it has invested ETB139 million in community projects, while shareholders and development partners have contributed a further ETB545 million, bringing total community investment to ETB684 million.
“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,” Vanhelleputte said.
Backed by a consortium led by Safaricom Plc, Vodafone, Vodacom, Sumitomo Corporation and British International Investment, Safaricom Ethiopia has become one of Africa’s largest greenfield telecom investments and is positioning itself as a key driver of connectivity and digital financial inclusion in the country’s 130 million-strong market.