Safaricom Ethiopia has hit what it describes as “a key milestone in operations” as it establishes its network across Ethiopia. It now claims it has registered one million active customers on its network.
The statistics are certainly impressive. As the new entrant in the Ethiopian market points out, with a network footprint across 17 cities, the company has registered an average of 20,000 customers per day since it commenced city-by-city customer pilots in August 2022. This momentum, it adds. has been further sustained by accelerated growth following a national launch ceremony in October 2022.
There’s going to be a bit of fanfare around the milestone too. The millionth customer, who hails from Jimma City, the largest city in southwestern Oromia Region, will receive an award of 100,000 Birr (about US$ 1,881) worth of Safaricom airtime, one Samsung Phone, five Safaricom Kerefa phones, and five Safaricom M-31 Mifi devices to share with family and friends.
Safaricom Ethiopia’s 07 network is now switched on in 17 cities. With continued investment in infrastructure, partnerships and the network rollout, says the company, “we will reach more cities and build our network in accordance with the obligations of the Unified Telecommunications Services License”.
It may be a coincidence that Safaricom Ethiopia has announced that it has connected one million active customers on its network only a day after the announcement that sole rival Ethio Telecom is to be part privatised. Nevertheless, it keeps Safaricom in the news against a rival that has ambitions to grow subscriber numbers to 73.5 million over the next year.
