Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you’re reading this post, chances are that internet connectivity matters to you. It matters to us too.
Connectivity is an essential tool for economic development. It is also a necessary part of achieving many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Investing in digital infrastructure improves network coverage, quality of service, and reduces prices for mobile and data packages. These improvements increase access to critical services, like health, education and banking.
In 2021, Safaricom Ethiopia – a company founded with investment from BII, IFC, Safaricom, Sumitomo Corporation, Vodacom and Vodafone Group – was awarded Ethiopia’s first mobile network licence to be granted to a private company.
Four years later, Safaricom Ethiopia is putting the internet in the hands of millions of Ethiopians, reducing prices and improving services. Since its launch, the cost of mobile data services in the country has fallen by up to 70 per cent. Safaricom Ethiopia had signed up 4.4 million customers and built over 3,000 connectivity towers. 4G availability in the country has doubled.
In this video BII’s Amelie Fabian reflects on how this is making a different to peoples lives.
If you’re reading this post, chances are that internet connectivity matters to you. It matters to us too.
Connectivity is an essential tool for economic development. It is also a necessary part of achieving many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Investing in digital infrastructure improves network coverage, quality of service, and reduces prices for mobile and data packages. These improvements increase access to critical services, like health, education and banking.
In 2021, Safaricom Ethiopia – a company founded with investment from BII, IFC, Safaricom, Sumitomo Corporation, Vodacom and Vodafone Group – was awarded Ethiopia’s first mobile network licence to be granted to a private company.
Four years later, Safaricom Ethiopia is putting the internet in the hands of millions of Ethiopians, reducing prices and improving services. Since its launch, the cost of mobile data services in the country has fallen by up to 70 per cent. Safaricom Ethiopia had signed up 4.4 million customers and built over 3,000 connectivity towers. 4G availability in the country has doubled.
In this video BII’s Amelie Fabian reflects on how this is making a different to peoples lives.
