Safaricom Ethiopia CEO discusses role of telecom infrastructure at East Africa Law Society conference
Date: 2025-11-26
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
Safaricom Ethiopia participated in the 30th East Africa Law Society (EALS) Annual Conference and General Meeting, where CEO Wim Vanhelleputte delivered the Opening Keynote Address. The event brought together legal and industry leaders from across the region, including the Ethiopian Advocates Association, to discuss harmonisation of legal systems and the advancement of regional digital integration.
In
his remarks, Mr.Vanhelleputte underscored the central role of
telecommunications infrastructure in driving East Africa’s digital
transformation. He noted that reliable infrastructure is essential to achieving
stronger regional integration, enhancing the rule of law, and enabling systems
that promote efficient cross-border collaboration.
He
highlighted Safaricom Ethiopia’s continued work with regulators to ensure fair
competition, sustainable pricing and legal frameworks that support innovation
while protecting consumers. Vanhelleputte added that aligned regulatory
approaches across the region remain key to fostering a predictable environment
for investment and digital growth.
With
Ethiopia nearing the final year of its Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy, the CEO
emphasised the need to accelerate the development of national digital
infrastructure, advance secure digital identity systems and expand fully
interoperable digital payment ecosystems.
Safaricom
Ethiopia’s participation signals the company’s commitment to supporting the
country’s digital transformation agenda and contributing to the broader
regional effort to harmonise legal and technological systems.
