Safaricom Ethiopia has surpassed 15 million 90-day active subscribers as the telecom operator marks five years since receiving its unified telecom operating license from the Ethiopian government.

The company received its license on July 9, 2021, and began commercial operations in October 2022 after an initial period focused on building its network, business operations, and sales and distribution infrastructure.

Safaricom Ethiopia said it reached the 15 million subscriber milestone within less than four years of commercial operations, making it one of the fastest customer growth journeys among new telecom operators that have built their networks from the ground up.

Since entering the Ethiopian market, the company has deployed more than 3,500 network sites, with coverage now reaching around 60% of the country’s population. The company said all its sites are 4G-enabled and 5G-ready, describing the rollout as one of the fastest nationwide network expansions by a new telecom entrant in Africa.

The operator noted that its network footprint has continued expanding into smaller towns and communities, improving access to digital connectivity across the country.

Safaricom Ethiopia also said its rapid subscriber growth and expanding revenues are bringing the company closer to financial breakeven after five years of investment in network infrastructure, technology, distribution, and operations.

The company highlighted the impact of telecom sector liberalization in Ethiopia, saying increased competition has contributed to wider connectivity, faster digital transformation, higher internet speeds, increased data usage, and the expansion of digital payments.

Beyond its telecom operations, Safaricom Ethiopia said it has invested ETB 139 million in community development initiatives, while shareholders and partners have contributed an additional ETB 545 million. The combined community investment has reached ETB 684 million over the past four years.

The company said its entry into Ethiopia has contributed to expanding connectivity, supporting digital finance growth, creating technology opportunities, and accelerating the country’s digital transformation agenda.