Safaricom Ethiopia hailed reaching 10 million 90-day active customers, just four years after launching commercial operations in the East African nation.
The operator gained its mobile licence in 2021 (and mobile money licence in 2023), and has since invested over ETB 300 billion (US$2.2 billion) into its Ethiopian unit. Its 4G network currently covers 55% of Ethiopia’s 100 million population. 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 6.5GB per month.
Safaricom Ethiopia said it had 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 licences up for bid as part of wider liberalisation efforts.
These licences were a coveted prize for Pan-African operator groups seeking new growth opportunities in a rapidly maturing African telecoms landscape.
Safaricom’s biggest rivals on the continent were also in the race to enter the Ethiopian market. The Ethiopian Communications Authority had initially aimed to award two new licences, but a late bid from MTN was rejected. Meanwhile, Orange entered discussions to acquire a 45% stake in state-owned incumbent Ethio Telecom. However, the deal was ultimately withdrawn due to misalignment with Orange’s strategic objectives.
Former Orange MEA CEO Jerome Henique told Developing Telecoms the agreement did not materialise because a 45% stake would not have granted Orange the level of control required to implement its preferred operating model.
