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Mobile operator Safaricom, has announced it will begin a phased launch of commercial services in Ethiopia from August, having failed to meet its previous deadline of April 2022.
At a press conference held in the capital Addis Ababa, the telco said that beginning August, it will rollout its network in 25 cities across the country by 2023.
“Safaricom Ethiopia is looking forward to switching on our network and services, starting with Dire Dawa from August 2022 and 24 other cities in phases across the country in the coming months,” said Matthew Harrison-Harvey, chief external affairs and regulatory officer.
He added, “Currently, we are in a testing period to ensure that when we switch on, we will deliver a quality experience for Ethiopians. We are working to fulfil our commitment to building the long-term foundations for our contribution to Ethiopia’s digital transformation and inclusion objectives to transform lives for a digital future.”
As part of preparations for a smooth launch in August, Safaricom had already put in place an infrastructure sharing agreement with state-owned Ethio Telecom where the two parties will share cell sites, interconnection and tower assets in Ethiopia.
The company has also invested in its network and building infrastructure, including its own mobile radio towers, national transmission network, and wholesale agreements for international connectivity.
It has also appointed a management team and experts for commercial launch, providing professional and skills development to employees numbering up to 500 staff, 320 of whom are Ethiopians.
Safaricom, is the first private telecommunications company to operate in Ethiopia.
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