By Black Star News
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Ethiopia’s Safaricom Telecommunications is increasing its network coverage in the nation’s northern region from Mekelle to Adigrat. They will now be reaching the towns of Edegahamus, Frewoyni, Hawzen, and Wukro.
This expansion marks the second phase of Safaricom Ethiopia’s North region network extension, which includes the installation of new 4G (5G-ready) network towers. The expansion is expected to enhance connectivity, create jobs, while also opening economic opportunity for area residents. Safaricom is partially owned by South Africa’s Vodacom, as well as by Vodafone, in the United Kingdom.
Safaricom’s Ethiopia subscribers are now listed as being at 10 million and they are projecting rapid growth in the country of 120 million. After Ethiopia’s state-owned Ethio Telecom was privatized, Safaricom obtained the first private telecoms license in 2021, and launched in 2022. In Kenya, Safaricom’s M-Pesa mobile money is used widely.
Safaricom’s Chief Technology Officer James Maitai said, “In the next five years we should be able to talk of over 70 million subscribers, because it’s a big country. Cash is over 95% cash usage which means there is a huge opportunity to offer M-Pesa for payment and other financial services.”
Safaricom initially had problems in its Ethiopia rollout. “The initial problem was technology set-up. This is behind us,” said Maitai. “Now we know how to build infrastructure fast.”
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