Safaricom Ethiopia has launched M-PESA LeHulum, a fully telco-agnostic mobile money platform that allows any Ethiopian to use M-PESA services regardless of the SIM card they own.
M-PESA LeHulum removes the barrier that has always tied mobile money access to specific networks. Anyone can now download the app, register with any phone number, verify through the Fayda Digital ID system and start transacting within minutes. This approach allows the platform to reach communities that previously could not join the digital economy.
According to Safaricom Ethiopia, M-PESA LeHulum brings together the services users rely on most. Users can use the platform to send and receive money, make merchant and bill payments, purchase airtime, QR payments, for bank transfers, wallet-to-wallet transfers through ETHSwitch and Errif Be M-PESA overdraft services.
M-PESA Ethiopia was first launched in August 2023. It has seen its numbers grow and as of November 6, 2025, it had 3.4 million 90-day active users. It had also reportedly processed 12.3 billion birr in transactions over the last six months. The platform also has over 30,700 merchants across Ethiopia.
Before M-PESA entered the market, Telebirr, operated by Ethio Telecom, dominated mobile money in Ethiopia. The launch of the telco-agnostic M-PESA LeHulum positions Safaricom Ethiopia to compete more directly by opening its service to users across all networks.
Elsa Muzzolini, CEO of M-PESA Ethiopia, said the goal is inclusivity and nationwide access. She said that M-PESA LeHulum represents the company’s commitment to building a digital financial ecosystem that unlocks opportunity and provides accessible financial services for everyone. She added that by decoupling the service from individual mobile networks, Safaricom Ethiopia can reach communities that have been excluded from the digital economy. She also noted that leveraging the telco-agnostic nature of PII licenses allows the company to ensure that digital financial services reach every corner of the country.
M-PESA LeHulum is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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Also Read: How M-PESA’s Ethiopia Journey Differs From Kenya
