Safaricom has added over 200,000 customers as it commences commercial operations in Ethiopia.
On Thursday October 6, Safaricom switched on its network in Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa, having had plotted the networks in nine towns in the country.
Safaricom at a cost of Ksh.36.2 billion was able to set up 500 network sites and two data centers.
The Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa described the immense value that the operator has created including a significant impact to the local people.
Safaricom Ethiopia is currently employing 650 staff of which 450 represent local employees.
“Beyond the money that is spent, value is created beyond the equipment deployed including the positive effect on the eco-system, partners and local people,” said Safaricom Plc CEO Peter Ndegwa.
Mr. Ndegwa also stated that the company had held conversations with Ethiopia’s government to incorporate its M-Pesa mobile money service to the country.
“We believe a lot of effort has been taken to make progress (on mobile money). In the meantime, we are having informal conversations with the government about the ability of our consortium to operate mobile money. As a company, we are making the necessary plans to scale mobile money when we are granted the license,” added Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa.
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