Safaricom Ethiopia is betting on the digital future of Ethiopia, which it believes will be crucial for generating growth in the East African country. The company’s CEO, Peter Ndegwa, made this statement during Safaricom’s second’ Investor Day’ in Addis Ababa. The event, themed “Scaling Operations for Ethiopia’s Digital Future,” brought together 150 delegates, including analysts, regulators, government representatives, Safaricom Kenya and Safaricom Ethiopia board members, and senior management.
According to Ndegwa, their focus on scaling operations for Ethiopia’s digital future has driven their growth. He added that they remain committed to leveraging their expertise and resources to continue establishing themselves as a key player in Ethiopia’s telecommunications landscape.
Adil Khawaja, the board chairman of Safaricom, also emphasized the significance of Ethiopia as a growth market for the company.
Since beginning commercial operations in October 2022, Safaricom Ethiopia has made significant progress. As of December 31, 2023, the company had approximately 2,200 base stations serving 33 cities, including big and medium towns. This accounts for more than 30% of total population coverage.
Safaricom Telecoms Ethiopia CEO Wim Vanhelleputte said they will continue establishing an innovative brand that provides a superior customer experience. He also expressed excitement about the potential of M-PESA to improve financial inclusion in Ethiopia. Currently, Safaricom Ethiopia has over three million M-PESA customers.