Safaricom Ethiopia has rolled out price increases of 20 to 82 percent on data bundles starting December 23, 2025. The company attributes the changes to rising operating costs and investments, but customers have voiced complaints over the hikes. This adjustment affects various daily, weekly, and monthly plans.
Safaricom Ethiopia, the country's second-largest telecom operator, began enforcing substantial price adjustments on data services from December 23, 2025. These changes impose hikes of 20 to 82 percent across most bundles, notably reducing the weekly 10 GB plan from 250 Birr to just 5.5 GB, an 82 percent effective increase.
Daily bundles saw 50 and 67 percent rises; the 150 MB option, previously 5 Birr, now offers only 100 MB. Similar reductions hit weekly and monthly plans, such as the 100 Birr weekly dropping from 3 GB to 2 GB, a 50 percent cut. Unlimited packages increased by 20-25 percent, while quarterly and semi-annual options rose 21 percent to 4,250 Birr and 8,500 Birr respectively.
The firm cites escalating operating and investment costs as the driver. In its statement, it noted: “To continue our efforts to provide reliable and quality connectivity service to our 12 million customers, this adjustment has become necessary.” CEO Wim Vanhelleputte had flagged unsustainable mobile data pricing five months earlier, warning of risks to the telecom sector's viability.
Ethiopia's data rates remain three times below the African average, yet macroeconomic shifts and foreign exchange pressures are straining network expansion and maintenance. Safaricom obtained its license in 2021 and launched in 2022, investing over 300 billion Birr (more than 2.5 billion USD) to build 3,000 sites that cover half the population. It aims for 6,000 sites and 80-90 percent coverage by 2028, requiring another 500 billion Birr in the coming three years.
Customers decry the moves as a “significant hike” rather than mere adjustment, especially with weekly bundle volumes shrinking and prices climbing, adding financial strain. The company rapidly grew to 12 million users via low rates, but this increase could push subscribers toward competitors. To safeguard market share, Safaricom must balance pricing with user affordability.
Ownership includes Safaricom Kenya at 55.7 percent, Sumitomo Corporation at 27.2 percent, British International Investment at 10.9 percent, Vodacom Group at 6.2 percent, and the rest held by IFC. Standard Bank provides 138 million USD in financing via its Kenyan partnership, bolstering digital infrastructure growth.