This serves as a validation of Safaricom’s dedication to safeguarding customer data across its GSM and M-PESA services. It confirms that the company adheres to globally accepted regulatory and technical standards in the implementation of privacy management systems.

This milestone complements Safaricom’s existing certifications in Information Security Management Systems (ISO 27001 – ISMS) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS version 4.0)

The assessment conducted by BSI took into account various critical elements related to Safaricom’s operations, including effective system controls for the protection of personal information, implementation of relevant policies including the Data Protection Policy.

Other areas covered included crucial systems such as the Customer Relationship Management, IP Contact Centre, Tibco, Converged Billing System, Voucher Management System, M-PESA G2, M-PESA Statement Portal, M-PESA Super App, MySafaricom App, and the M-PESA business App.

“I would like to applaud the dedicated cross-functional teams whose tireless efforts have made this achievement possible. The attainment of the PIMS certification reaffirms our ongoing commitment to continuously improve our privacy and security measures, ensuring we provide exceptional experiences for our customers while safeguarding their private information,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom in a press statement.

The post Safaricom Awarded ISO 27701 Privacy Certification by British Standards Institute appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

“The company’s commercial services would have never been possible without the support and collaboration of the government institutions in the country,” Safaricom Ethiopia CEO Wim Vanhelleputte told ENA.

The company has reached almost half of the Ethiopian population with its 4G mobile internet services in about two years after launching commercial operations in October 2022 with about 1,000 telecom towers which has tripled. “That means we are providing 4G mobile internet data services to almost 50 percent of the Ethiopian population,” said Wim.

“Out of the 3,000 towers, we have built 60 percent completely ourselves; and we have some passive infrastructure sharing agreement with Ethio Telecom for about 40 percent of our towers,” said Wim. “When we do infrastructure sharing, we still put our telecom equipment, but we are using towers from Ethio’s site with a sharing agreement.”

In terms of customers, Safaricom Ethiopia has reached almost 5 million active customers, as confirmed by Wim. “We are very hopeful that within less than a year, we will grow from 5 million to more than 10 million in the next 12 months. We’re in a very aggressive growth phase which is quite exciting,” he said.

Wim has also reaffirmed Safaricom’s commitment to contribute to digital Ethiopia. The company’s focus on digital innovation is evident in the launch of M-PESA to contribute to Ethiopia’s transition to a cashless society.

See also: Digital Ethiopia: Temesgen Tiruneh urges private sector leadership in national transformation

“One of the reasons we want to invest in Ethiopia is to contribute to the government agenda of digital Ethiopia,” he said. “The company will significantly contribute to transforming Ethiopia to a digital cashless society.”

While acknowledging challenges in accessing certain payment services, Wim expressed optimism about future expansion into areas like fuel and tax payments. “We are hopeful that we will be able, together with all the other commercial banks and digital payment platforms, to offer our payment services to a wide range of payment or payment solutions.”

ENA reports that Safaricom Ethiopia has further pledged to invest in expanding its network coverage to reach 80-90 percent of the population and introduce new digital solutions.

The company is also set to launch bank saving and lending products through M-PESA, Wim revealed.

See also: GSMA re-certifies Safaricom’s M-PESA

The post Safaricom Ethiopia’s 4G Network Covers Nearly Half of Ethiopia in Just Two Years appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Commenting on the re-certification, Safaricom CEO, Mr. Peter Ndegwa said, “This certification is evidence that we have taken a step further to ensure that customers’ funds are in safe hands, that their rights are being observed through our business practices, and that a high level of customer service can be expected.”

He adds “Certification is a sign that our business practices are among the best in the industry, that we are providing a secure, transparent, and reliable mobile money service. We are a trustworthy and responsible mobile financial service provider and an attractive candidate for collaboration with innovators and the business community.”

M-PESA was one of the pioneering mobile money operators to receive this accreditation in 2018 and has consistently maintained its certification. The mobile phone-based money transfer service continues to play a crucial role in developing Kenya’s financial sector and has gained popularity globally in the past decade. There are 31.5 million active M-PESA users, processing over KES40.2 trillion in transactions annually (as of the end of March 2024).

With over 690 million registered accounts globally, mobile money services are significantly contributing to financial inclusion and improving lives worldwide.

See also: Safaricom hits 1,000+ 5G sites, expands coverage across all Kenyan counties

The post GSMA Re-certifies’ Safaricom’s M-PESA appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

With 1,114 5G sites covering 102 towns across Kenya, individuals and businesses can now experience the benefits of high-speed internet. In addition to the growing network, Safaricom has over 11,000 enterprise customers on its 5G and has seen growth of active 5G smartphones to over 780,000, demonstrating the increasing adoption of this transformative technology.

In October 2022, Safaricom became the first service provider in Kenya to launch 5G. Since then, the telco has continued expanding its 5G network across the country driving digitization of enterprise solutions across the Internet of Things (IoT), Cybersecurity, Cloud, and Payments leading to optimized business operations, efficiency, and enabling innovation and scalability.

See also: We’re demonstrating to Ugandans that 5G is no longer just an idea, it is here — Sylvia Mulinge

In a press statement, Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC said, “Safaricom remains committed to leading Kenya’s digital transformation through the provision of a worry-free, always-on ubiquitous network enabling access to information, critical services, and communication therefore bridging the digital divide.” “We believe that the benefits of 5G will be a key catalyst in leapfrogging other innovations, industries as well as Kenya’s digital economy.”

As Safaricom looks to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030, it’s exciting to see the opportunities that next-generation technologies like 5G will unlock for the continent. From immersive experiences, gaming, smart warehousing, telemedicine, and smart irrigation the possibilities are endless as we build our silicon savanna.

See also: 5G is key to Africa’s business success, experts urge

The post Safaricom Hits 1,000+ 5G Sites, Expands Coverage Across All Kenyan Counties appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The Spark Accelerator program will run for three-month and it will provide training, mentorship, funding, and go-to-market support to spark the growth and scale of ventures that come into the accelerator and set them up for long-term success.

“The Spark Accelerator program aligns with our ambition to be a purpose-led technology company. With the accelerator, we are offering more than just capital injection which is what we did previously with Spark Fund. We have restructured the program to address the challenges that hinder early startups from growing to scale,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, of Safaricom.

This will benefit fintech and content startups in the initial phase. It will take an ecosystem-based approach to identify and accelerate the startups by leveraging a team of experts who understand market dynamics, and emerging tech and who are keen to enable continuous innovation.

“Sumitomo Corporation’s wide range of business experience will contribute to creating innovative businesses and support the expansion of the startup ecosystem. Through this program, we will contribute to developing the African economy, human resource development, and realizing a more prosperous life for the people,” said Katsuya Kashiki, General Manager, of the Smart Communications Platform Business Division.

Participating startups are set to benefit from access to technical support to develop mini-apps embedded into Safaricom’s M-PESA Super App, empowering them to reach more than 4 million customers who use the app.

Managing Director, of M-PESA Africa Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, said “M-PESA connects more than 60 million customers and 5 million businesses across eight countries, providing a unique opportunity for startups in Africa looking to grow and scale rapidly. We have therefore partnered with Safaricom and Sumitomo to launch the Spark Accelerator to provide funding, technical expertise, resources, and mentorship to the next generation of the continent’s leading tech startups. In turn, the startups will create innovations that connect customers and businesses on M-PESA to more opportunities while providing them with even more value”.

In addition, M-PESA Africa will offer expertise, market research and insights, and other capacity support for startups looking to expand their reach to other countries. The support will continue beyond the three-month program enabling startups in the program to tap into more than 60 million customers and 5 million businesses across M-PESA’s eight markets.

The accelerator program will culminate in an investor demo day for the startups to pitch for investment from Safaricom and partner venture capital firms.

iHUB, a pioneering force within Kenya’s startup ecosystem and a subsidiary of Africa’s leading innovation hub, Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), will be the implementing partner of the Spark Accelerator.

Managing Director, CcHUB Ojoma Ochai said “We are thrilled to spearhead this groundbreaking collaboration with Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation.  The Spark Accelerator serves as a launchpad for forward-thinking founders to shape and scale their enterprises. We encourage startups with dynamic and impactful solutions to join us on this exciting journey, where together with our esteemed partners, we are excited to catalyze innovation empowering digital ecosystems”.

Other supporting partners for the program include Vodacom and AWS.

The call for applications will run until February 16, 2024, If interested, you can apply HERE.

The post Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, Sumitomo Call for Applications for the Spark Accelerator Program appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

During the meeting our shareholders approved two new subsidiaries to empower and invest in tech start-ups in Kenya. #SafaricomAGM2023 pic.twitter.com/dqzHaib0up

— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) July 28, 2023

Mr. Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO said in a press statement that the telco is committed to empowering the tech ecosystem in Kenya and the strategic move will enable them to broaden their investments, embracing both seed-stage and growth-stage startups.

The incorporation of a company limited by guarantee to invest in seed-stage startups builds on the Spark Fund; an investment entity by Safaricom PLC governed by a Board of Trustees — designed to empower and nurture seed-stage startups across Kenya.

The Spark Fund portfolio companies include Shupavu 291 by Eneza Education, iProcure, Sendy, and Ajua & Soko Fresh.

“These new companies will accelerate the business’ entry into new customer segments within the consumer, financial services, enterprises, and SME space and will help unlock new business models and value chain opportunities,” Mr. Ndegwa said — further adding that “We will be looking to invest in and support early-stage companies, especially in emerging technologies such as analytics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things.”

On the other hand, the new private limited liability company will also be mandated to invest in mature, strategically aligned entities that will help accelerate Safaricom’s mission toward becoming a tech company by 2025. This entity will also act as the main investment vehicle for all strategic investments undertaken by Safaricom PLC.

“Incorporating these new subsidiaries is pivotal to realizing Safaricom’s purpose to become a purpose-led technology company,” said Mr. Ndegwa.

In his remarks, Mr. Adil Khawaja, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Safaricom PLC thanked the shareholders for their unwavering support in establishing the new subsidiaries to invest in startups. “By investing in tech entrepreneurs and initiatives that align with our strategic mission, we aim to continue to transform lives by connecting people, opportunities, and information while driving innovation, creating value, and leaving a lasting impact on society.”

The post Safaricom Shareholders Approve New Subsidiaries Dedicated to Investing in Startups appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

He joins Safaricom Ethiopia from MTN Group, where he was the Operating Executive for West and Central Africa (WECA) Markets of Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville since August 2022 and he was responsible for the performance and governance.

Wim brings to Safaricom Ethiopia his extensive leadership experience and deep industry knowledge, having worked in the telecommunications industry across multiple markets in sub-Saharan Africa for over 25 years.

Safaricom PLC in a statement said, “As Wim joins us, we have planned for a seamless transition to ensure that we maintain our momentum so far in delivering our vision to transform lives through a digital future for all Ethiopians.”

Wim’s appointment comes a week after Safaricom Ethiopia expressed its appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for its continuous support in undertaking telecom and financial services in the country.

“The first message we continue to give to the outside investment is the support that we are receiving from the government, first for the launch of the telecommunication services, and now for this investment in the area of financial services,” Safaricom Ethiopia Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Chris Lazarus told the Ethiopia News Agency at the time.

Kenya’s Safaricom PLC launched its mobile network in Ethiopia in October 2022, becoming the first private operator in one of Africa’s largest telecoms markets. It is reported that the network was supposed to launch in April 2022 but was delayed because of Covid-19 and logistical challenges. At the time of the launch, Safaricom Ethiopia switched on its network and services in the capital Addis Ababa following network pilots in 10 cities.

Prior state-owned Ethio Telecom had been operating as a sole telecommunication services operator in Ethiopia since 1894 until the government allowed Safaricom to start telecom operations in the country.

Safaricom Ethiopia is building a wholly-owned mobile network and also has infrastructure sharing and interconnection agreements in place with Ethio Telecom. The telco’s vision is to transform lives through a digital future for all Ethiopians — and it believes Wim Vanhelleputte in this.

The engagement of Safaricom Ethiopia in addition to Ethio Telecom and another “expected” third telecom operator is going to stir further competition and benefit their customers from affordable and meaningful connectivity which also aligns with the United Nations ITU target.

According to the Ethiopia News Agency, Ethiopia is already experiencing the benefits of competition, with many changes taking place in the country.

Safaricom Ethiopia Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Chris Lazarus noted before that their partner, the incumbent Ethio Telecom, is not seen as a competitor but rather an ally.

Anwar Soussa will depart ways with the telco effective July 31st, 2023 as confirmed by Safaricom PLC Kenya’s CEO Peter Ndegwa.

“Anwar Soussa, Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC, will be leaving the business effective 31st July 2023 once his secondment comes to an end,” Ndegwa said in a statement — adding that “As the first CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia, Anwar has overseen the attainment of significant milestones in a highly dynamic environment, including onboarding the team and successfully launching commercial operations of the second telecommunications operator in Ethiopia.”

In his tenure, Safaricom Ethiopia has now boosted over 4 million customers with more than 25 percent network coverage of the population spread across 50 cities and towns. Under his leadership, Safaricom Ethiopia also secured a mobile financial services license, paving the way for the launch of M-PESA services.

Ndegwa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Anwar for his leadership and contributions to Safaricom Ethiopia. Remarking that “Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated unwavering passion and commitment, which have played a crucial role in our achievements thus far.”

The post Wim Vanhelleputte Appointed as the New CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Safaricom Ethiopia Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Chris Lazarus told the Ethiopia News Agency that “The first message we continue to give to the outside investment is the support that we are receiving from the government, first for the launch of the telecommunication services, and now for this investment in the area of financial services.”

It is to be recalled that the state-owned Ethio Telecom has been operating as a sole telecommunication services operator in Ethiopia since 1894 until the government allowed the private company Safaricom Ethiopia to start telecom operations last year.

It’s almost a year since we launched the core telecommunications services in the country, said Lazarus — adding that the telco will continue to invest in building infrastructures and rolling out the services for customers, businesses, and the government.

The National Bank of Ethiopia has also recently issued a license for Safaricom to start its Mpesa mobile payment instrument.

Lazarus said “We are proud now to bring Mpesa very shortly. We’ll be launching that particular service here in Ethiopia to help the country drive the topics like financial inclusion and digital inclusion, and that’s what we are currently busy with and we will continue to invest in.”

The telco is confident that it can build an even better product than what was previously offered in Kenya. “In fact, inside the company, we say that we’re going to build a product that’s even better than what our colleagues first started to have in places like Kenya, which is where this was born,” per the Ethiopia News Agency.

According to Lazarus, Safaricom Ethiopia plans to create a complete ecosystem by connecting people through telecommunication and combining distribution, branding, and the new ecosystem.

“Our aim is to make sure that we put our connectivity in all parts of the country, including rural areas. Obviously, we had to start in the cities first, but our plan now is to expand that to cover all,” explains Lazarus. “So yes, our plan is to not leave anybody behind. And that’s why we talk about being purpose-led; that this is a digital society not for people only living in cities, but this is a digital society for people living with a digital inclusive strategy for people living in all areas of the country.”

Pleased to share the news of @SafaricomET’s Addis Ababa switch-on. This is an important milestone as we continue to build a first-class network for all Ethiopians. We will continue to expand our network to 25 cities across the country by April 2023. #SafaricomETLaunch pic.twitter.com/IPbAqGTJcQ

— Chris Lazarus (@ChrisJLazarus) October 6, 2022

The engagement of Safaricom in addition to Ethio Telecom and another expected third telecom operator is going to stir further competition and benefit their customers from affordable and meaningful connectivity which also aligns with the United Nations ITU target.

According to the Ethiopia News Agency, Lazarus commented that Ethiopia is already experiencing the benefits of competition, with many changes taking place in the country. “Ethiopia has already started to experience the benefit of what competition is. There are many changes that have happened already in the country.”

Although he didn’t want to pinpoint specific examples, he believed that further competition would arise when a third operator arrives. He thinks that it will happen and is already starting to happen in many regards.

Lazarus however did point out that their partner, the incumbent Ethio Telecom, is not seen as a competitor but rather an ally.

“With our investments and efforts, we have already made a positive change and created an ecosystem that goes beyond what it was before.”

He further adds that “If you think about digital Ethiopia, that’s what Digital Ethiopia 2025 is. It’s not one person or one company driving it. This is a country with 120 million people and growing. So, we need many areas of the economy to think in this way. Partnership, and ecosystem for a better Ethiopian.”

The post Safaricom Ethiopia Has Appreciated The Gov’t Supporting its Telco & Financial Services in the Country appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The M-PESA license will open the country to the world’s largest mobile payment system and Africa’s largest Fintech, and the world’s first mobile money transfer system. The service will start rolling out over the next few months.

Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom PLC CEO in a press statement said, “We are excited that this is a great milestone following our entry into Ethiopia. This positions us to provide essential financial services to the Ethiopian population.”

Ndegwa further said, “Since the commercial launch in October, the brand is visible, deeply rooted in Ethiopia, and quickly becoming in every sense fabric of the society. The potential for Ethiopia is immense and we look forward to the future with optimism and excitement.”

In the period under review, Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia added close to 3 million customers and built a distributor network of over 114 outlets, delivered an award-winning premium quality network in 22 cities and regions; with close to 1,300 network sites, and over 900 staff, 81% of whom are Ethiopians.

M-PESA empowers over 30 million customers to transact, save or borrow money through their mobile phones. M-PESA catalyzed financial inclusion in Kenya to 84% from a low of 26.7% in 2006 according to the 2021 FinAccess Survey and generated over KES 117.2 billion in revenue in FY23.

Ndegwa spoke during the announcement of the Full Year 2022/2023 results, which saw net income increase by 3.0% to KES 74.5 billion for Safaricom Kenya.

Safaricom increased its Group Service Revenue by 5.2% to KES 295.7 billion while the Group net income excluding minority interest declined by 10.6% attributable to expected start-up costs and investment in rolling out operations in Ethiopia within the year.

Voice service revenue declined by 2.6% to KES 81.1 billion; mobile data revenue grew by 11.4% to KES 54.0 billion, while M-PESA revenue grew by 8.8% to KES 117.2 billion.

“We have delivered a solid set of results despite the tough operating environment occasioned by a slowdown in business activity in an election year in Kenya, tough macro environment as well as change in mobile termination rates which impacted our voice revenues significantly,” said Ndegwa.

He continues, “The business is stable and regained a strong positive momentum in the second half of the year. Looking into the future, we passionately believe that our business is well-positioned to support our customers and provide technology solutions as we transition into a purpose-led technology organization in line with our 5 YR strategy.”

The post Safaricom Granted License to Operate M-PESA in Ethiopia appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Fuliza ya Biashara will apply when making transactions from a Lipa Na M-PESA Business Till to other Till Numbers and PayBill Numbers, when sending money to an individual, and when withdrawing to the nominated number or at an agent. The service will advance an overdraft of up to KSH400,000 depending on the business’ limit.

“We launched Lipa Na M-PESA as a way for businesses to conveniently receive cashless payments through their mobile phones, whenever they are. With more than 538,000 businesses accepting payments through the service, our strategy is to now go beyond collecting payments by providing business owners with tools to manage and grow their businesses,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom. “Fuliza ya Biashara caters especially to small businesses by providing them with instant, affordable credit of up to KSH00,000, empowering them to rapidly respond to their business needs.”

Fuliza ya Biashara is available through the M-PESA Business App and on the Lipa Na M-PESA Transacting Till on *234#. Business owners can access a minimum overdraft of KSH1,000 and can draw multiple overdrafts of up to KSH400,000 based on their assigned limit.

“This proposition once again signifies the immense opportunities available within the digital ecosystem managed by KCB and Safaricom,” said Mrs. Annastacia Kimtai, KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director. Adding that “We believe that the roll-out of this exciting feature will give Kenyan entrepreneurs the headroom to scale up their business operations without getting into the danger of not servicing some of their critical needs like payments to suppliers.”

Kimtai further remarked that “As a partner, KCB will conveniently provide the much-needed support to guarantee scalability and access across its various customer delivery touchpoints.”

The overdraft is offered a 2% one-off fee and a tiered daily access fee after the 24-hour free period. The Fuliza ya Biashara limit is reset every time a repayment is made, enabling business owners to immediately access new overdrafts including the amount they just repaid.

Safaricom and KCB say that the launch of Fuliza ya Biashara seeks to meet a gap in access to affordable credit especially among small and micro businesses that have been previously locked out due to their size and perceived risk. The solution provides each business with a tailored overdraft limit based on the transaction history on Lipa Na M-PESA and the repayment history of previous overdrafts.

Fuliza ya Biashara is M-PESA’s first credit solution dedicated to businesses and the latest in a string of innovations targeting business owners on the platform. In 2020, Safaricom introduced the Lipa Na M-PESA Business Till and M-PESA Business App, enabling businesses to make payments from Tills and providing simplified cash flow management through the app.

More than 390,000 businesses have downloaded the M-PESA Business App with over 50% of business transactions on M-PESA being made through the app.

ALSO READ: AIRTEL UGANDA, KCB ROLLOUT MOBILE LOAN PRODUCTS

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