Safaricom Ethiopia has officially launched its commercial operations in the Tigray region to mark a major milestone in its mission to provide comprehensive network services across Ethiopia since its entry in October 2022.
The telecom firm is now providing a range of services, including mobile, internet, SMS and mobile money transactions via M-Pesa to the Tigrayan community in what industry experts believe is a move set to transform the communication landscape of northern Ethiopia.
This move also includes the opening of a regional office.
The deployment in Tigray is being executed in two phases.
Initially, 125 self-built towers have been set up.
The next phase involves constructing 166 additional towers to cover more cities.
Safaricom is also committed to establishing a standalone 4G network that is ready for 5G technology.
The network will connect to the Global Mobile Network and is interconnected with other networks in Ethiopia to enable effortless communication for users
As of the end of March 2024, Safaricom Ethiopia’s network reached 40% of Ethiopia’s population.
The company has announced a future investment of $1.5 billion over three years to expand network coverage.
It currently operates 2,500 towers with a goal of 7,000 to provide extensive connectivity.
With its network now in Tigray, Safaricom aims to connect millions more in a country with a mobile penetration rate of 38.5%.
As of March 31, 2024, Safaricom reported having 9.4 million subscribers competing with Ethio Telecom which had 72 million subscribers as of June 30, 2023.
