Safaricom Ethiopia passes 15m active subscribers

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Operators; 04 September 2026; 339 views

Safaricom Ethiopia has surpassed 15 million 90-day active subscribers, less than four years after launching commercial services in the country.

The operator received its unified telecom licence from the Ethiopian government in July 2021 and began commercial operations in October 2022, entering a market previously dominated by state-owned Ethio Telecom.

Safaricom Ethiopia has deployed more than 3,500 network sites since entering the market, with its network now reaching around 60% of the country's population. The operator said all of its sites are 4G-enabled and 5G-ready.

The subscriber milestone comes as Safaricom Ethiopia moves towards financial breakeven following several years of investment in network infrastructure, technology and distribution.

The operator said increased competition following Ethiopia's telecoms liberalisation has contributed to wider connectivity, faster internet speeds, increased data usage and growth in digital payments.

Safaricom Ethiopia is part of the Vodafone-backed Safaricom group, which entered Ethiopia as part of the country's efforts to liberalise its telecoms market and attract private investment.