Safaricom Ethiopia has crossed 10 million active users, four years after entering the market. The milestone signals growing traction for the Kenyan telco’s expansion into one of Africa’s last greenfield telecom markets. It shows that sustained investment in network rollout, job creation, and digital inclusion is starting to pay off.
The company claims its 4G network now covers over half of Ethiopia’s population, with more than 3,100 live sites in 150 towns and cities. Mobile data use is also increasing: 7.1 million customers are now active data users, each consuming an average of 6.5 GB per month, a 53% rise from a year earlier.
Safaricom has invested over 300 billion birr ($2.27 billion) in Ethiopia since 2021, supporting not only infrastructure but also local job creation. Of its 900 direct employees, 97% are Ethiopian. It also collaborates with over 20,000 brand ambassadors, distributors, and subcontractors nationwide.
The company’s growing footprint reflects both rising demand and strong policy support for Ethiopia’s digital transformation. The liberalisation of the telecoms sector in 2021 ended Ethio Telecom’s monopoly and opened the door for private capital and competition. That bet is starting to mature.
Safaricom is also positioning itself as a social actor, having spent over 100 million birr on school connectivity, donated to disaster response efforts, and backed humanitarian programs like Mekedonia.
The 10 million mark underscores the scale and momentum Safaricom has built in Ethiopia. However, it also sets the stage for what comes next, especially as it gears up to scale M-PESA and compete more directly with Ethio Telecom in the financial services sector.
