Somaliland, a self-declared independent state in the northwestern region of Somalia, is characterised by a mountainous terrain, with the coastal plains in the north and the central plateau towards the south. The population of about 6 million is unevenly distributed, heavily concentrated in the urban areas of Hargeisa and Burao. Technology and telecoms sectors are in a developing state, with Telesom, Somtel, and Somcable being key players. These companies have spearheaded unique, low-cost mobile money services, which have achieved high penetration rates. However, the country's infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with a lack of reliable electricity posing significant challenges.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 2 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
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.
