Sponsored Contents | Oct 24,2023
Telcom users in Ethiopia saw last week a milestone event with the launching of a second operator breaking a monopoly enjoyed by the state-owned Ethio telecom for over a century. Safaricom Ethiopia Plc launched its services with spectacular fanfare, including the display of Addis Abeba's first drone light show at Mesqel Square, declaring: "Further Ahead Together."
"We're excited to have you and all of Ethiopia connected to the 07 network," a tweet on the Safaricom page reads.
The event was graced with the presence of Kenya's newly elected President, William Ruto. He made his first African visit since his election in August, joining Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the launch held on Thursday, October 6. He was ushered to visit the Chinese-built Science Museum inaugurated a week before. Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen (left) accompanied the two heads of state, while Finance Minister Ahmed Shidie gabbed with Firehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio telecom.
Ahmed unexpectedly announced that his government would grant an operation permit for Safaricom Ethiopia to start mobile money services deploying its pioneering platform, M-PESA.
A consortium of South African, UK, and Japanese companies under the stewardship of Kenya's Safaricom Plc, Safaricom Ethiopia has made history by entering the Ethiopian market as the first private telecom operator. Won a highly touted telecom licence two years ago after outbidding its contenders for over 800 million dollars, Safaricom unveiled its first data centre in Addis Abeba last month. Anwar Sousa, Safaricom Ethiopia's CEO, pledged to work to build Ethiopia's digital economy and expand services nationally.
"A vision of transforming lives for a digital future is not a path to be walked alone," said Anwar during the launching event held at Friendship Square. "It requires walking at the same pace as Ethiopia's vision for a prosperous future."
Safaricom Ethiopia began testing its network and services in Dire Dawa, before going into operation in eight towns in the weeks ahead of its national launch.
PUBLISHED ON
Oct 08,2022 [ VOL
23 , NO
1171]
Sponsored Contents | Oct 24,2023
View From Arada | Feb 03,2024
Radar | Jun 30,2024
Editorial | Nov 07,2020
Agenda | Sep 01,2024
Radar | Mar 18,2023
Fortune News | Dec 30,2023
Fortune News | May 15,2024
Viewpoints | Sep 03,2022
Commentaries | Sep 10,2023
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transportin...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
The cracks in Ethiopia's higher education system were laid bare during a synthesis re...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Construction authorities have unveiled a price adjustment implementation manual for s...
Oct 12 , 2024
In his inaugural address on October 27, 2024, Taye Atseqesellasie, the fifth presiden...
Oct 5 , 2024
Not long ago, the sight of exchange bureaus in Addis Abeba was as rare as a cloudless...
Sep 28 , 2024
In the early 2010s, Ethiopian authorities found themselves at odds with the Internati...
Sep 21 , 2024
A nurse in Addis Abeba shares a cramped one-room apartment with three colleagues. Her...
Loading your updates...