Safaricom Ethiopia has crossed a major milestone, reaching 10 million active subscribers, four years after acquiring its telecom license. The achievement underscores the company’s rapid growth in one of Africa’s most closely watched and underserved telecommunications markets.
The figure is based on SIM cards active within a 90-day period and follows the addition of 7.1 million new users over the past year, a sign of strong user adoption despite patchy national connectivity. According to the company, its mobile network now reaches over 50% of Ethiopia’s population, with more than 3,140 live sites operating across 150 towns and cities.
This surge in customer growth places Safaricom ahead of its initial targets. However, the company continues to absorb financial losses linked to the high cost of infrastructure rollout. A member of the Global Partnership for Ethiopia — a consortium backed by Kenya’s Safaricom, Vodafone Group, and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation — the operator views Ethiopia as a long-term strategic investment in digital inclusion.
The Safaricom network includes robust 4G coverage and a growing number of 5G sites, positioning it as one of the largest private-sector investments in Ethiopia’s recent history. Since launching operations, the company has invested over 300 billion Ethiopian birr (approximately $2.27 billion) in infrastructure and services.
Safaricom Ethiopia currently employs around 900 staff, 97% of whom are Ethiopian nationals. Through retail channels and subcontractors, the company has also generated more than 20,000 indirect jobs.
Meanwhile, the company is working to expand its M-PESA mobile money platform, which was licensed in Ethiopia in 2023. M-PESA now has 1.2 million monthly active users, though Safaricom has acknowledged that transaction volumes are still in the early stages of growth.
As Ethiopia continues to liberalize its telecom sector, Safaricom’s progress highlights the opportunities — and the long-term challenges — of bringing connectivity, financial access, and digital services to a population of over 120 million.
Source: Birrmetrics
