Safaricom Ethiopia Speed Test | Kencang
Test your Safaricom Ethiopia internet speed in Ethiopia
www.safaricom.etSafaricom Ethiopia is the second mobile operator in Ethiopia, launched in October 2022 to compete with state-owned Ethio Telecom. Backed by Vodafone Group and Safaricom PLC of Kenya, the operator reached 10 million active customers within four years of launch. Safaricom Ethiopia operates over 3,100 live sites across more than 150 towns and cities with 4G LTE coverage reaching over half the population.
About Safaricom Ethiopia
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia is owned by an international consortium including Vodafone Group, Safaricom PLC, Vodacom Group, Sumitomo Corporation, and British International Investment. The company invested over ETB 300 billion (USD 2.27 billion) to build telecom and digital financial services infrastructure in Ethiopia.
The operator introduced M-PESA mobile money to Ethiopia alongside voice and data services. Safaricom Ethiopia has grown to 10 million active customers, with 7.1 million using mobile data services and per-user consumption reaching 6.5 GB per month.
Safaricom Ethiopia Plans and Services
Safaricom Ethiopia offers several internet plans across different technologies and price points.
Safaricom Ethiopia offers prepaid mobile plans with daily, weekly, and monthly data bundles. Plans include voice minutes, SMS, and 4G LTE data access across the operator's growing network.
The company also provides M-PESA mobile money services, enabling digital payments and financial transactions. Safaricom Ethiopia plans to double its network footprint to over 6,000 towers by December 2028, using tower sharing and solar-powered base stations to reach rural areas.
Safaricom Ethiopia Internet Plans
| Plan | Speed | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Data 500MB mobile | 4G LTE | ETB 15/day |
|
| Weekly Data 2GB mobile | 4G LTE | ETB 60/week |
|
| Monthly Data 5GB mobile | 4G LTE | ETB 200/month |
|
| Monthly Data 15GB mobile | 4G LTE | ETB 500/month |
|
Prices and availability may vary by location. Contact Safaricom Ethiopia for current offers.
Safaricom Ethiopia Coverage by Region
Safaricom Ethiopia performance varies by location. Coverage density, local infrastructure, and network congestion affect speeds in each market.
Addis Ababa
Strongest coverage area with the most cell sites deployed
Major Cities (Dire Dawa, Adama, Hawassa)
Expanding coverage to suburban areas around major cities
Regional Towns
Coverage expanding with plans for 6,000+ towers by 2028
Is Safaricom Ethiopia Right for You?
Every provider has trade-offs. Here is how Safaricom Ethiopia performs based on real-world usage and customer feedback.
Strengths
- Modern 4G LTE network with new infrastructure
- M-PESA mobile money integrated with mobile plans
- Rapid network expansion across 150+ towns and cities
- Backed by Vodafone Group expertise and technology
- Competitive pricing that challenges the state monopoly
- Per-user data consumption growing at 53% year-over-year
Weaknesses
- Coverage limited compared to Ethio Telecom's nationwide reach
- No 5G service available yet
- Network still expanding to rural and remote areas
- Fewer retail locations than Ethio Telecom
- Some areas have 3G only without 4G coverage
Best For
- Urban users in cities where Safaricom has 4G coverage
- M-PESA users who want integrated mobile money and telecom
- Customers looking for an alternative to Ethio Telecom
- Data-heavy users who benefit from competitive data pricing
Not Ideal For
- Users in rural areas not yet covered by Safaricom's network
- Customers who need nationwide coverage across all regions
- Users requiring fixed broadband or home internet
- Businesses needing enterprise fiber connectivity
How Safaricom Ethiopia Compares
Side-by-side comparison of Safaricom Ethiopia against major competitors in Ethiopia.
| Competitor | Speed | Price | Coverage | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethio Telecom | Safaricom's newer 4G equipment typically delivers faster speeds in covered areas. Ethio Telecom has wider but sometimes congested coverage. | Safaricom offers competitive pricing on data bundles. Ethio Telecom has lower voice call rates due to scale. | Ethio Telecom covers virtually all of Ethiopia. Safaricom covers 150+ towns with plans to double its tower count by 2028. | Choose Safaricom for faster 4G speeds and M-PESA in covered cities. Choose Ethio Telecom for nationwide coverage and established service. |
Troubleshooting Safaricom Ethiopia Issues
Common Safaricom Ethiopia connection problems and how to fix them.
Safaricom Ethiopia mobile speeds are slower than expected
Cause: Connected to 3G instead of 4G, network congestion, or weak signal in your area.
- Check if your phone shows 4G or LTE in the status bar
- Move to an area with better Safaricom signal strength
- Toggle airplane mode on and off to reconnect
- Restart your phone to refresh the network connection
No Safaricom signal in your area
Cause: You may be outside Safaricom Ethiopia's current coverage area.
- Check Safaricom's coverage map on the official website
- Move to a nearby town or city with known Safaricom coverage
- Ensure your SIM card is active and properly inserted
- Contact Safaricom customer support for coverage updates
Safaricom Ethiopia History
Key milestones in Safaricom Ethiopia development and network expansion.
Consortium led by Safaricom PLC won the telecom license to operate in Ethiopia
Launched commercial services in October 2022 in Addis Ababa and other cities
Expanded to over 100 towns with 4G LTE coverage and introduced M-PESA
Reached 8.8 million active customers with rapid data adoption
Surpassed 10 million active customers. Secured USD 138 million from Standard Bank for network expansion
Test Your Safaricom Ethiopia Speed
Run a free speed test to check if Safaricom Ethiopia delivers the speeds you are paying for. Test during peak evening hours for the most realistic results. Compare your results against Safaricom Ethiopia advertised speeds above.
Safaricom Ethiopia Speed Test FAQ
What network does Safaricom Ethiopia use?
Safaricom Ethiopia operates its own independent mobile network using 4G LTE and 3G technology. The company has deployed over 3,100 live sites across more than 150 towns and cities in Ethiopia. Safaricom's network is backed by Vodafone Group technology and expertise. The 4G LTE coverage now reaches more than half of Ethiopia's population, with plans to double the tower count to 6,000 by December 2028.
How do I test my Safaricom Ethiopia speed?
You can test your Safaricom Ethiopia mobile speed using the free speed test tool on this page. Tap the Start Test button to measure download speed, upload speed, and latency on the Safaricom network. Make sure you are not connected to WiFi and have strong signal for accurate results. Test in multiple locations to compare Safaricom performance across different areas of your city.
Does Safaricom Ethiopia offer M-PESA?
Yes, Safaricom Ethiopia offers M-PESA mobile money services alongside its mobile voice and data plans. M-PESA allows users to send and receive money, pay bills, and make digital purchases directly from their phone. The service is based on the same technology that made M-PESA the largest mobile money platform in Kenya. M-PESA is available to all Safaricom Ethiopia subscribers and integrates with the mobile account for easy top-ups and payments.