Somalia, situated on the Horn of Africa, is a geographically diverse country with a population of approximately 17 million. The population is unevenly distributed, with most people residing in the southern regions and the capital, Mogadishu. The northern region, known as Somaliland, operates as a separate entity with its own infrastructure and telecommunications network. The country's telecommunications sector has shown innovation in the face of challenges, with private companies providing competitive services in the absence of a central regulatory framework. Infrastructure is generally underdeveloped, but the telecoms sector is relatively advanced, offering some of the most affordable mobile and internet services in Africa. The renewables sector, particularly solar energy, is still in its early stages, but offers significant potential due to the country's high levels of insolation.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 7 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
NationLink Telecom, a telecommunications firm based in Somalia, was established in September 1997. The company was founded by Abdirizak Ido, a Somali entrepreneur who currently holds the position of President and is the controlling shareholder. As one of the foremost telecommunications service providers in Somalia, NationLink Telecom operates across the entire country. The company is headquartered in Mogadishu and has offices across the region, as well as in Dubai. NationLink provides a wide range of telecommunication services, including mobile phone services, internet access, and mobile money...
Sahal Telecom, established in January 2012, is a Next Generation Networks (NGN) telecommunications provider in the Somali Republic. The company was founded by a group of Somali businessmen and international partners with the vision of rebuilding the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. The company aimed to provide cost-effective internet and telecommunications services, focusing on broadband access and voice solutions. Sahal Telecom obtained a National Telecommunications Licence from the Ministry of Information, Post and Communications under the new Telecommunications Act of Somalia...
Somtel (سومتيل) is a mobile network operator servicing Somaliland and Somalia. The company was founded in 1998 and is a publicly traded company registered in the British Virgin Islands, with majority ownership held by UAE-based MTO Dahabshiil (approx. 95%) since 2008. Somtel is headquartered in Hargisa.
