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Safaricom Ethiopia and travel eSIM in Ethiopia

Safaricom Ethiopia is one of the networks your eSIM may use in Ethiopia. Here is who actually decides which network you get, and what to do with that.

Author: Porsch Kunnipat Siramanakul · Co-founderReviewed by: Bob Kanokphon ThongdeePublished: October 12, 2026Last updated: October 12, 2026
Safaricom Ethiopia and travel eSIM in Ethiopia

Quick answer

  • 11 of the 11 Ethiopia plans we sell name Safaricom Ethiopia as a reachable network, at 5G.
  • Safaricom Ethiopia runs LTE on B3; your phone needs at least one of them.
  • Travel plans connect by roaming, so no plan can promise one specific network.

Safaricom Ethiopia in brief

Safaricom Ethiopia launched commercial operations in October 2022, introducing 4G services to cities and towns across Ethiopia.

We are not a reseller for this operator and we have not run our own field speed tests. The band and network details below come from the sources listed at the end of the page.
Safaricom Ethiopia and travel eSIM in Ethiopia

Safaricom Ethiopia's bands and technology

ItemSafaricom Ethiopia
LTE (4G)B3
5G NRNot verified
5G launchedNot verified
3GStill running
Network code (MCC-MNC)636-02

Checked against the sources on 2026-10-12. Only the bands a source confirmed are listed; the network may run others too.

An eSIM can only use Safaricom Ethiopia if your phone supports at least one band in this table. Before you fly, open your model's spec page on the maker's site and compare its LTE and 5G band lists.

Who licenses Safaricom Ethiopia

Mobile networks in Ethiopia are licensed, and their spectrum assigned, by the Ethiopian Telecommunication Agency (ETA). The bands above are the ones it allocates. A problem with the local network's own service goes to the operator first; a problem with your eSIM plan comes to us.

Safaricom Ethiopia and travel eSIM in Ethiopia

The plans on our shelf that name Safaricom Ethiopia

From the supplier record behind each package, 11 of the 11 plans we currently sell for Ethiopia declare Safaricom Ethiopia as a network the profile can reach, at 5G. The figure comes from the same catalogue that prices the plan pages, and it moves when the supplier revises the record.

A plan naming Safaricom Ethiopia means the network sits in the list the profile may choose from. It does not mean your handset will stay on it. The priority order is the supplier's, and the signal where you stand decides.

Why plans do not name a fixed network

Nearly every travel eSIM is a roaming product: the profile picks a network by an order the supplier sets, not by the buyer. If Safaricom Ethiopia is weak where you are, try selecting Ethio Telecom manually in the network settings, and keep data roaming on for the eSIM profile.

FAQ

Will my eSIM definitely connect to Safaricom Ethiopia?+

11 of our plans name Safaricom Ethiopia as reachable, but that is not a guarantee. Travel plans run over roaming agreements, so the network depends on the supplier behind the plan, your device and where you are.

Which bands does my phone need for Safaricom Ethiopia?+

At least one of these, LTE: B3. Your phone's band list is on the maker's spec page for your model, under "Cellular" or "Network".

Does Safaricom Ethiopia run 5G, and will my plan get it?+

We could not confirm Safaricom Ethiopia's 5G status from an official source. Our plans that reach this network list 5G.

How do I see which network I am on?+

Check the carrier name at the top of the screen, or open the mobile-network settings and look at the operator list. If signal is poor, try selecting a network manually instead of automatic, but only one your plan actually supports.

Sources

About the author

Porsch Kunnipat Siramanakul

Porsch Kunnipat Siramanakul

  • Co-founder of eSIMonline.asia
  • Digital marketer
  • Performance marketing and marketing planning
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Related

Plans

eSIM plans for Ethiopia

Ranked by our value score. Each plan page lists the networks its supplier declares.

Ethiopia 20GB 30 days

Safaricom

Fixed
Data
20GB
Validity
30 days
Hotspot
Yes
Technology
3G / 4G / 5G
  • 5G ready
  • Hotspot
  • Top-up ready

Validity starts on first connection at the destination

  • Network risk
  • One network
from$88.90$84.45
Details

Ethiopia 10GB 30 days

Safaricom

Fixed
Data
10GB
Validity
30 days
Hotspot
Yes
Technology
3G / 4G / 5G
  • 5G ready
  • Hotspot
  • Top-up ready

Validity starts on first connection at the destination

  • Network risk
  • One network
from$47.90$45.50
Details

Ethiopia 10GB per day

Safaricom

Daily
Data
10GB per day
Validity
sold per day, up to 365 days
Hotspot
Yes
Technology
3G / 4G / 5G
  • 5G ready
  • Hotspot

Validity starts on first connection at the destination

  • Network risk
  • Daily, no top-up
from$42.90$40.75
Details

Ethiopia 5GB 30 days

Safaricom

Fixed
Data
5GB
Validity
30 days
Hotspot
Yes
Technology
3G / 4G / 5G
  • 5G ready
  • Hotspot
  • Top-up ready

Validity starts on first connection at the destination

  • Network risk
  • One network
from$25.90$24.60
Details

Ethiopia 5GB per day

Safaricom

Daily
Data
5GB per day
Validity
sold per day, up to 365 days
Hotspot
Yes
Technology
3G / 4G / 5G
  • 5G ready
  • Hotspot

Validity starts on first connection at the destination

  • Network risk
  • Daily, no top-up
from$25.90$24.60
Details

Ethiopia 3GB 30 days

Safaricom

Fixed
Data
3GB
Validity
30 days
Hotspot
Yes
Technology
3G / 4G / 5G
  • 5G ready
  • Hotspot
  • Top-up ready

Validity starts on first connection at the destination

  • Network risk
  • One network
from$18.90$17.95
Details