Safaricom Kenya, the largest telecom service provider in Africa, has announced that it has not provided its customers’ information to the government.
The Nairobi based international telecom service company in its statement addressing this issue, the company emphasized its commitment to respecting the privacy of its customers in accordance with the country’s data protection laws.
The organization clarified that it will not hand over any customer information to third parties unless ordered by a court.
The statement further noted that since the commencement of its operations, Safaricom has not been asked by the government to provide customer information.
It also highlighted that no court orders have been received requiring the company to hand over its customer data to the government.
One of its sister company, Safaricom Ethiopia began its operations in June 2021 under the name International Partnership for Ethiopia, a year after receiving the legal license to provide telecom services in the country.
The company, which entered Ethiopia three years ago, is a private limited liability entity comprising Vodacom Group, Vodafone Group, Sumitomo Corporation, and CDC Group.
Safaricom Ethiopia’s entry into the Ethiopian market followed the country’s decision to open its telecom sector to Foreign Service providers.
The company launched its first telecom service in August 2022 in Dire Dawa city, eastern Ethiopia.
The organization announced ambitious plans to provide telecom services to 50% of the population within the next three years and to 98% within the next ten years.
A month ago, Safaricom Ethiopia revealed that it has allocated $1.5 billion for network expansion over the next three years.
The company also plans to install 5,000 new network towers across various regions of the country during this period.
Currently, Safaricom Ethiopia provides services through a bilateral agreement with Ethio Telecom while gradually building its own network infrastructure.
The company claims it is currently operating with 2,500 network towers, of which 1,500 have been independently constructed.
In a significant development, Safaricom recently announced the launch of its commercial operations in the Tigray region, marking a crucial step in its mission to provide reliable network services across Ethiopia.
Due to the war in northern Ethiopia, the company had been unable to offer its telecom services until June 11, 2024.
The expansion into Tigray will be executed in two phases. In the first phase, 125 self-built towers have been constructed. The second phase will involve erecting an additional 166 towers to cover the remaining cities in the region.
This strategic move underscores Safaricom Ethiopia’s dedication to expanding its reach and enhancing connectivity for its customers throughout the country.
