Safaricom Ethiopia telcom signal goes live in Addis Ababa
After weeks of network launches in various cities across the country, Safaricom Ethiopia today has switched on its mobile telecommunications network and services in Addis Ababa, the country’s capital city.
The entry into Addis Ababa brings to 11, cities where Safaricom Ethiopia’s 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile services are available, including the capital and the country’s second-largest city Dire Dawa.
So far, Safaricom Ethiopia has managed to recruit 200,000 mobile phone subscribers, Safaricom Ethiopia CEO Anwar Soussa said during the launch.
Safaricom PLC Chief Executive Peter Ndegwa said: “We have deepened digital and financial inclusion in Kenya by connecting people to people, people to opportunities, and people to information.
“With these lessons and experiences, we look forward to positively impacting the people of Ethiopia with a sustainable and quality mobile network that will be a vital launch pad for nationwide digital telecommunications services to over 118 million Ethiopians.”
The telco has been deploying massive telecommunications infrastructure with a view to reaching 25 cities by April next year.
Read also: Safaricom Ethiopia kicks off phased network rollout
Last year, telcom giant Safaricom led a consortium including Vodafone Group; Vodacom Group; Sumitomo Corporation – one of the largest international trading and business investment companies; and British International Investment (BII) – the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor in winning bid to deploy telecom services in the country of nearly 120 million people.
Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone Group, said: “We are excited to be part of this highly experienced international consortium, with a strong vision to advance Ethiopia’s inclusive digital society, with clear goals to deliver greater prospects for education, jobs and prosperity.”
Ethiopia launched Digital Ethiopia 2025 seeking to help the country realise its digital potential and leverage technology to build a more prosperous society.
Shameel Joosub, CEO, Vodacom Group, said: “I would like to congratulate Safaricom Ethiopia and all management, staff and partners involved in reaching this milestone as we seek to connect every Ethiopian to the global digital economy. Ubiquitous network connectivity will positively transform the lives of Ethiopians throughout the country, notably by making various Tech for Good solutions and services available in health, education, manufacturing, agriculture and digital finance.”
Toshikazu Nambu, Representative Director, Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Sumitomo Corporation, said:”Through this project, Sumitomo Corporation will contribute to Ethiopia’s national development by providing its expertise in the telecommunications business and digital transformation know-how cultivated in Japan and other Asian countries. With the expansion of mobile phone use and the economic and human resource development, we will transform lives for a digital future, in line with the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy.”
As part of that process, Safaricom Ethiopia was granted a nationwide full-service Unified Telecommunications Service License and is the first company in the country to launch a competitive mobile service to state-owned Ethio Telecom.
“The launch of Safaricom Ethiopia will deliver development impact at a country-wide level. It will transform the economic prospects for millions of Ethiopians and go a long way to alleviating data poverty in the country,” Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive of BII, noted.
Targeting 25 percent population coverage, Safaricom Ethiopia is building a wholly-owned mobile network and also has infrastructure sharing and interconnection agreements in place with Ethio Telecom.
