In a move set to reshape the Ethiopian telecommunications landscape, Safaricom Ethiopia has embarked on a journey towards self-reliance and innovation. The company recently celebrated a landmark achievement by receiving the first batch of 13 telecom towers locally manufactured by Woda plc.

For years, the telecom industry in Ethiopia, like many others across the continent, has relied heavily on importing essential infrastructure. This reliance has often come with high costs and logistical challenges. Bringing production closer to home could change the growth trajectory of a business, and this may well be the case for Safaricom Ethiopia. 

A leap towards local production

The company’s strategic partnership with Woda plc is set to boost the local manufacturing landscape. Woda plc has taken on the ambitious task of supplying Safaricom Ethiopia with 68 high-quality telecom towers at a total cost of 50 million birr.

The tower types ordered are three 35-meter camouflage, four 30-meter monopole, and sixty-one 40-meter self-stand angular towers.

Steven Cui, CEO of Woda plc, and Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia

However, this collaboration is not just about numbers – it’s a testament to the potential of local manufacturing. Woda plc’s commitment to maintaining international quality standards, coupled with its competitive pricing, positions it as a formidable player in the industry. The local economy is gaining the equivalent of US$1.6 million in Ethiopian birr from the order of just a few towers, demonstrating that major requirements and investments can be met locally.

A historic moment for Safaricom and Ethiopia

Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia, emphasised the significance of this initiative, saying, “This is a historic moment for Safaricom in Ethiopia as we have started the localisation of the manufacturing of our infrastructure.”  

The CEO highlighted the quality of Woda plc’s towers, pointing out the company’s state-of-the-art galvanisation plant, the biggest in Africa, as a key factor in their cost-effectiveness and efficiency. 

This move is not just about enhancing Safaricom Ethiopia’s operational capabilities, he added. It’s a step towards setting a new standard for manufacturing in Ethiopia and, by extension, across Africa. By investing in local production, Safaricom Ethiopia is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, self-sufficient industry.

The partnership will also reduce the hard currency burden on the national reserve and give the Ethiopian community access to new employment opportunities.

Safaricom’s vision for the future

Safaricom Ethiopia’s commitment to local industry does not stop with the Woda project. The company recently unveiled a US$1.5 billion network expansion plan, aiming to construct 5 000 towers over the next three years. With more than 2 800 towers already in place, two-thirds of which are self-built, Safaricom Ethiopia is steadily building an expansive, robust infrastructure that will support the digital transformation of Ethiopia.

 

As Safaricom Ethiopia continues to forge partnerships with local companies like Woda plc, it sets a shining example of how collaboration and innovation can drive progress. 

More about Woda Metal Industry plc

  • Woda is a multinational organisation
  • More than 15 years of industry experience
  • Supplies transmission towers and radio masts for the telecommunications, broadcasting and television sectors
  • A leading ISO-certified metal products manufacturer in Ethiopia