Safaricom Ethiopia passes 15 million active subscribers
Less than four years after its commercial launch, the operator claims more than 3,500 sites and coverage of 60% of the population. It is now aiming to break even.
- 15 million 90-day active subscribers, less than four years after launch.
- More than 3,500 4G sites, about 60% of the population covered.
- Goal: break even in the financial year ending March 2027.
Safaricom Ethiopia announced on 3 September 2026 that it had passed 15 million 90-day active subscribers. The operator, a subsidiary of Kenya’s Safaricom, obtained its licence on 9 July 2021 and began selling its services in October 2022.
A network built from scratch
More than 3,500 sites have been installed, all 4G-capable and 5G-ready, covering about 60% of Ethiopia’s population. The company sees it as one of the fastest national rollouts by a new operator in Africa.
Profitability, the next step
After heavy investment, the Ethiopian losses are shrinking. The group aims to break even in the financial year ending in March 2027. The opening of the market, long reserved for the state operator Ethio Telecom, has come with higher speeds and a sharp rise in digital payments.
- Safaricom Ethiopia Surpasses 15 Million Subscribers After Four Years of Operations, TechAfrica News.
- Safaricom Ethiopia crosses 15m subscribers at five-year mark, TechTrendsKE.
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