Safaricom Ethiopia Highlights $5 Billion Investment Need to Scale Telecom Sector

Safaricom Ethiopia Telecommunications PLC  has highlighted Ethiopia’s growing digital opportunity and the scale of investment required to support the country’s expanding telecom sector, during the EU–Ethiopia Business Forum held in Addis Ababa.

The company underscored Ethiopia’s large and youthful population—estimated at over 130 million people—as a key driver of future digital demand. With around 10,000 births recorded daily, the country represents one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in Africa, creating significant potential for accelerated digital adoption.

Safaricom Ethiopia noted that ongoing reforms and the momentum behind the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy are positioning the country for rapid telecom and digital expansion. However, it also stressed that realizing this potential will require a strong understanding of local conditions, cultural context, and sustained investment in domestic talent development.

According to the company, Ethiopia’s telecom sector will need to double in size within the next two to three years to keep pace with rising demand. Achieving this growth is expected to require approximately $5 billion in industry-wide investment to expand infrastructure and strengthen network capacity nationwide.

The company further indicated that the entry of a third operator into the market would serve as a key indicator of sector maturity, increased competition, and readiness for the next phase of Ethiopia’s digital transformation.

Safaricom Ethiopia emphasized that these developments collectively point to a significant long-term opportunity for digital growth, infrastructure expansion, and enhanced connectivity across the country.