Safaricom PLC has accelerated the deployment of its Safaricom Solar Network by transitioning 2,028 telecommunication base stations to solar power during FY26.

This telecom transition mirrors off-grid electrification efforts detailed in Kenya’s Government Fast Tracks Its Off-Grid Solar Access Project, which outlined large-scale clean energy deployments across regional counties.

Under its latest sustainability targets, the leading mobile network operator expanded its solarized site footprint by 41.6% within a single fiscal year. Company executives confirmed that renewable energy sources now supply 35.7% of Safaricom’s entire national network infrastructure.

Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peter Ndegwa presented the milestone figures during the release of the company’s 15th Sustainable Business Report.

Karen Khayanje Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact, emphasized that replacing heavy diesel generators cuts operational overhead while reducing scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions.

Network Decarbonization under Safaricom Solar Network Expansion

Telecommunication engineers are systematically retrofitting off-grid and remote base transceiver stations with high-efficiency photovoltaic panels and advanced lithium-ion battery storage banks.

By converting 596 additional stations in FY26, Safaricom increased its active solar-powered base stations from 1,432 to 2,028.

The ongoing conversion program significantly reduces fuel consumption across rural off-grid sites, insulating network operations against diesel price volatility.

Safaricom funds these large-scale infrastructure upgrades through its inaugural KSh 20 billion sustainability-linked facility.

Capital markets demonstrated strong institutional confidence in the strategy, oversubscribing the green bond issuance by 175.7%. Dedicated green financing enables technical teams to procure industrial-grade solar equipment, modern power control units, and hybrid energy controllers.

The enterprise strategy targets a long-term total of 5,000 solar-powered network sites by 2030. Infrastructure managers plan to power 95% of the overall network via clean energy sources, aligning with Safaricom’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2050.

Clean Energy Integration for Safaricom Solar Network Operations

To supplement on-site solar generation, Safaricom is structuring long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) with regional utility providers.

The corporate procurement framework ensures that high-capacity data centers and urban switching centers receive steady, certified green electricity.

Accelerated Site Upgrades: Technical crews converted 596 base stations during the past fiscal year, bringing total solarized sites to 2,028. Targeted Power Procurement: Corporate agreements will cover at least 80% of total electrical consumption through renewable contracts by 2035. Sustainable Capital Deployment: The oversubscribed KSh 20 billion green bond directly underwrites network decarbonization projects.

Safaricom continues to collaborate with local suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and green energy contractors to maintain site reliability.

The rapid transition to solar energy sets a prominent sustainable benchmark for telecommunication infrastructure throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

Project Fact Sheet

Name: Safaricom Telecom Network Solarization & Green Power Transition Program.

Type: Distributed Solar PV Retrofit, Hybrid Battery Storage, and Clean Energy Procurement Project.

Location: Nationwide Telecom Base Transceiver Stations, Data Centers, and Offices across Kenya.

Total investment: Supported via KSh 20 billion Green Bond ($154.1 million USD).

Developer: Safaricom PLC.

Status: Active Implementation Phase (2,028 sites operational in FY26).

Construction employment: Estimated 1,200+ specialized solar technicians, electrical contractors, and logistics crew positions.

Permanent employment: Hundreds of permanent network maintenance engineers, power system managers, and sustainability specialists.

Timelines and production targets: 2,028 active solar sites in FY26; targeting 5,000 solarized sites by 2030 and net-zero operations by 2050.

Technology integration: Industrial Solar Photovoltaic Panels, High-Density Lithium-Ion Energy Storage Systems, Hybrid Power Controllers, Remote SCADA Monitoring.

Raw material supply: Solar PV modules, mounting structures, and battery cells sourced through certified global energy hardware vendors.

Economic impact: Reduces industrial diesel import dependency, lowers operational costs, supports local clean-tech contractors, and cuts national carbon footprint.

Key infrastructure needs: Solar Panel Racks, Deep-Cycle Energy Storage, Smart Hybrid Inverters, High-Speed Optical Monitoring Cables.

Delivery risks: Remote site equipment theft/vandalism, supply chain delays for specialized storage batteries, seasonal overcast generation drop-offs.

Primary target markets: Safaricom Enterprise Network, Consumer Mobile Subscribers, Regional M-PESA Financial Ecosystem.

Project Team

Project Owner & Operator: Safaricom PLC

Lead Corporate Stakeholder: Sustainable Business and Social Impact Directorate (Safaricom)

Primary Capital Markets Partners: Green Bond Underwriters & Institutional Investors

Government & Regulatory Stakeholders: Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)