Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia Plc and Ethiopian Electric Power sign dark fiber-optic leasing agreement

Mar 10 2025

Safaricom Ethiopia and Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) signed a five-year lease agreement to share dark fiber-optic on March 10, 2022.

Over the course of few decades, EEP has built a network of Optical Ground Wire (“OPGW”) cables along high voltage transmission lines. Optical Ground Wire is one of the most reliable fiber optic medium for the telecom service providers or other organizations who are involved in the transmission of one or more form of voice, data, video, text, messages, conferencing and telemetering. Considering it uses only a few of the core cables, EPP had set aside some of the optic-fibers for lease.

As Safaricom Ethiopia continues to build its network in the country, it will lease the OPGW installed on EEP’s high voltage transmission that will be used as part of Safaricom’s network to provide national telecommunications services. The first phase of the agreement includes Safaricom Ethiopia leasing 4000+ kilometres OPGW, with the option of the parties to agree further phases. 

Anwar Soussa, Safaricom Ethiopia’s Chief Executive Officer hailed the spirit of cooperation from EEP towards a win-win partnership and underscored the importance of this agreement. He further indicated, “such infrastructure sharing agreements will enable us to fulfill our commitment to transform Ethiopian lives for a digital future and contributes to efforts being made to the phased operation launch.’’  

Asheber Balcha, Ethiopia Electric Power Chief Executive Officer, on his part said, “Safaricom Ethiopia has come to the market using the opportunity the government of Ethiopia has put forth to liberalize the telecom sector. This first of its kind collaboration will see not only power but telecommunications reach Ethiopians in all corners of the country. The agreement we sign today to share our OPGW infrastructure will enable Ethiopian Electric Power to utilize its resources and increase its revenue, while enabling Safaricom Ethiopia to provide quality and competitive telecommunication services.”

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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

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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.

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British Foreign Secretary Visits Safaricom Ethiopia, Underscoring UK Commitment to Investment and Job Creation

02 February 2026

British Foreign Secretary Visits Safaricom Ethiopia, Underscoring UK Commitment to Investment and Job Creation Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 1 February 2026 – Safaricom Ethiopia today hosted the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, during her official visit to Ethiopia, highlighting the growing role of British investment in supporting economic development and job creation in the country. The visit reflects Safaricom Ethiopia’s position as one of the most significant British-linked investments in Ethiopia, with British International Investment (BII) and Vodafone as part of its shareholders. The Foreign Secretary was accompanied by a delegation of British investors and representatives from the British Embassy. Other major British companies operating in Ethiopia, including MOENCO and Unilever, were also in attendance and briefed the Foreign Secretary on their ongoing investments and contributions to the local economy. Welcoming the delegation, Safaricom Ethiopia’s Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte, provided an overview of the company’s rapid growth, expanding network footprint, and its impact on employment and digital inclusion across the country. “We were pleased to welcome Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to Safaricom Ethiopia,” said Wim Vanhelleputte. “Her visit is a strong signal of the continued confidence and support we receive from our shareholders and partners. It also reflects the importance of long-term, responsible investment in building sustainable businesses and meaningful economic opportunities.” The Foreign Secretary’s visit forms part of a broader assessment of how investment can support economic opportunity and address the root causes of irregular migration. Safaricom Ethiopia is among the largest private-sector employers in the country, directly and indirectly supporting more than 20,000 jobs through its operations, partners, and distribution network. Safaricom Ethiopia continues to play a central role in Ethiopia’s digital transformation, contributing to financial inclusion, connectivity, and job creation, while reinforcing the strong economic ties between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom.

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Demystifying Excellence at the 4th Excellence Summit 2026

26 January 2026

Demystifying Excellence at the 4th Excellence Summit 2026 Safaricom Ethiopia’s CEO, Wim Vanhelleputte, participated in a high-level panel discussion at the 4th Excellence Summit 2026, joining Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, and Bart De Keninck, CEO of Heineken. The session brought together leaders from organizations recognized for outstanding performance across sectors. All three companies were winners at the 12th Ethiopian Quality Awards, presented on December 2, 2025, by His Excellency Taye Atske Selassie, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in recognition of excellence in quality, leadership, and organizational performance. Drawing on Safaricom Ethiopia’s journey, Wim highlighted the value of operating within a well-established international industry, where proven standards and processes already exist. He emphasized that leveraging these frameworks enabled Safaricom Ethiopia to build a strong foundation efficiently, without the need to reinvent systems from scratch. He stressed that excellence begins with getting the fundamentals right starting with people. Investing in young talent with the right mindset, providing continuous coaching, and complementing them with experienced leaders are critical to building resilient and high-performing organizations. Wim also underscored the importance of operational clarity and focus. For Safaricom Ethiopia, priority was given to building core infrastructure and a reliable distribution network, supported by a strong ecosystem and clear standards for partners and contractors. Sustainable progress, he noted, is achieved by addressing challenges step by step rather than attempting to do everything at once. Reflecting on the Ethiopian Quality Award assessment, Wim described the process as rigorous, scientific, and well-structured, guided by a clear and detailed methodology. He shared that the Safaricom Ethiopia team is already preparing to ensure an even stronger performance in the upcoming assessment cycle. At the heart of Safaricom Ethiopia’s excellence journey is strong people management driven by effective leadership, clear processes, and empowered teams anchored in the company’s purpose of transforming lives for a digital future. The summit served as a valuable experience-sharing platform, fostering dialogue and learning among leading organizations committed to excellence.