Somali authorities aim to strengthen digital infrastructure. The telecom regulator is working with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to develop a new regulatory framework for fiber-optic submarine cables.

Somali plans to improve the country’s digital infrastructure by developing a unified fiber-optic deployment policy. For that purpose, the Ministry of Communications and Technology held public consultations on November 17 and 18 to gather input from stakeholders.

“The unified fiber-optic deployment policy aims to guide national telecom companies toward collaboration in installing and expanding fiber-optic cables. This initiative will help reduce the costs associated with deploying and expanding fiber infrastructure while promoting the growth of a modern digital economy and national interconnectivity,” the ministry announced on its Facebook page on November 17.

In its Digital Economy Diagnostic – Somalia report, published in March 2024, the World Bank indicated that Somalia’s domestic fiber network remains significantly underdeveloped and fragmented. It noted that only isolated segments have been deployed by sub-regional operators, while cross-border links remain weak. Although Somalia is connected to five international submarine cables, with a sixth expected in 2025, the lack of a robust domestic infrastructure limits the equitable distribution of available capacity.

“The absence of a robust backbone network prevents the distribution of international capacity across Somalia, yielding uneven access to broadband, mixed network quality, limited redundancy, and hampers market competition,” the report stated.

Densifying the national fiber-optic network through this policy could improve internet quality and coverage across Somalia. However, challenges persist, as the World Bank pointed out, which could hinder internet adoption, with penetration rates standing at only 27.6% in early 2024, according to DataReportal. Key obstacles include limited access to affordable, broadband-compatible devices, a lack of attractive data-based services, insufficient relevant local content, and a digital skills gap.

Isaac K. Kassouwi