Safaricom Surpasses 15 Million Subscribers as it Marks Five Years
Sep 3 2026
Safaricom Surpasses 15 Million Subscribers as It Marks Five Years
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 3 Sept 2026 – Safaricom is marking five years since it received a full-service unified telecom operating license from the Government of Ethiopia on 9 July 2021, with the company having surpassed 15 million 90 days active subscribers during this period.
The milestone comes less than four years after we began commercial operations in October 2022, following an initial period focused on establishing the business, building our network, and putting in place our sales and distribution infrastructure.
We have surpassed 15 million 90 days active subscribers within four years of commercial operations, marking one of the fastest customer growth journeys among new telecom operators that have built their network and customer base from the ground up.
Since receiving our license, we have built more than 3,500 network sites, with our network now reaching around 60% of the country's population. All our sites are 4G-enabled and 5G ready, making our network state-of-the-art. That makes our expansion one of the fastest network rollouts by a greenfield telecom operator in Africa, and one of the fastest globally for a new entrant building a nationwide network from scratch.
Our network footprint now stretches across the country, increasingly bringing high-quality connectivity to smaller towns and communities across Ethiopia.
Our rapid scale-up stands out in Africa, with more than 15 million 90 days active subscribers and over 3,500 network sites built within five years.
The rapid growth in our customer base and business is also bringing us closer to financial breakeven. After five years of significant investment in network infrastructure, distribution, technology and operations, we are approaching breakeven as our growing customer base and revenues continue to strengthen the business.
Liberalizing the telecom sector has proven to be a significant decision, with the industry becoming noticeably more vibrant over the past five years. Connectivity has expanded; the pace of digitization has accelerated; internet speeds and data consumption have increased significantly; and digital payments have expanded across the country.
We have also witnessed the emergence of world-class talent in Information Technology in Ethiopia and have played our part in supporting that journey. Beyond the impact of our core business, we have directly invested ETB 139 million in community development and support, while our shareholders and partners have contributed an additional ETB 545 million. This brings the total investment in communities to ETB 684 million over the past four years of our operations.
Our entry into the Ethiopian market has therefore created impact across multiple layers, from expanding connectivity and accelerating digital finance to supporting communities and empowering the ongoing digital transformation.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) Highlights Safaricom’s Role in Ethiopia’s Digital Transformation
22 October 2026
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Safaricom Ethiopia Records 130.9% Service Revenue Growth in FY26
24 April 2026
Safaricom Ethiopia Records 130.9% Service Revenue Growth in FY26 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia May 7, 2026 - Safaricom Ethiopia has recorded a 130.9% year-on-year increase in service revenue for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, reaching ETB 15.9 billion, driven by strong customer growth, rising demand for mobile data services, and accelerated adoption of M-PESA across the country. The performance was announced today as part of the Safaricom Group FY26 Full Year Results announcement in Nairobi, Kenya, highlighting Ethiopia’s growing contribution to the Group’s long-term growth strategy. During the financial year, Safaricom Ethiopia’s 90-day active customer base grew to 13.6 million, representing a 54.2% year-on-year increase, while 30-day active customers reached 10.7 million, up 48.2% year-on-year. M-PESA continued to gain strong momentum during the year, with the number of customers more than doubling to 5.2 million, reflecting increasing adoption of digital financial services and mobile money solutions across Ethiopia. Mobile data remained the largest contributor to revenue, generating ETB 9.6 billion during the year, supported by increased smartphone usage and growing demand for digital connectivity. Voice revenue also recorded strong growth, reaching ETB 3.0 billion as customer engagement and network usage continued to rise. Safaricom Ethiopia also continued expanding its network footprint to 3,504 sites, enhancing service quality across the country. By the end of FY26, the company had achieved 59% 4G population coverage, further strengthening access to reliable connectivity and digital services for millions of Ethiopians. As part of its long-term commitment to Ethiopia, total funding into the business increased to USD 2.6 billion as of March 31, 2026, supporting network expansion, operational scale, and future growth ambitions. The Safaricom Group noted that Ethiopia contributed 15% of the Group’s total service revenue growth during the year, underlining the market’s strategic importance within the Group’s Vision 2030 growth ambitions. The Group also reported that losses in the Ethiopian business reduced significantly year-on-year, with the operation moving closer toward EBITDA breakeven targeted for FY27. Safaricom Ethiopia remains committed to accelerating digital inclusion, expanding access to connectivity, and delivering innovative mobile and financial services that support Ethiopia’s digital transformation agenda. Key FY26 Highlights ETB 15.9 billion service revenue, up 130.9% year-on-year 13.6 million 90-day active customers, up 54.2% year-on-year 10.7 million 30-day active customers, up 48.2% year-on-year 5.2 million M-PESA customers, up 119.4% year-on-year 59% 4G population coverage achieved Ethiopia contributed 15% of Safaricom Group’s service revenue growth Total funding into the business increased to USD 2.6 billion
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC has been recognized as the #1 Top Employer in Ethiopia for the third consecutive year and named Africa’s Top Employer 2026 for the first time
03 February 2026
We are proud to share that Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC has been recognized as the #1 Top Employer in Ethiopia for the third consecutive year and named Africa’s Top Employer 2026 for the first time, with an outstanding score of 98.08%. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to building a people-centered culture where our employees can thrive, grow, and make meaningful impact. As our CEO Wim Vanhellepute shared: “This recognition affirms our commitment to putting our people at the heart of everything we do. It reflects the culture we are building one that empowers our employees, nurtures talent, and creates an environment where everyone can grow and perform.” Thank you to all our employees for making this achievement possible. We are proud to share that Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC has been recognized as the #1 Top Employer in Ethiopia for the third consecutive year and named Africa’s Top Employer 2026 for the first time, with an outstanding score of 98.08%. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to building a people-centered culture where our employees can thrive, grow, and make meaningful impact. As our CEO Wim Vanhellepute shared: “This recognition affirms our commitment to putting our people at the heart of everything we do. It reflects the culture we are building one that empowers our employees, nurtures talent, and creates an environment where everyone can grow and perform.” Thank you to all our employees for making this achievement possible.