Somalia’s President Celebrates Hormuud Telecom's 5G Rollout: A Milestone for Digital Advancement

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a significant stride towards Somalia’s digital transformation, Hormuud Telecom, a leading force in Somalia's telecommunications sector, has unveiled its 5G network. This development marks a pivotal moment for the country, reflecting progress in enhancing its digital landscape and socio-economic conditions.

Two decades ago, Somalia faced the challenge of establishing a robust communication network. Hormuud Telecom's entry into the market brought in basic GSM all the way through to 4G services. It also introduced mobile money to the country, now used by over 90% of Somalis, a testament to the company’s dedication to meeting the needs of the Somali people.

The recent 5G launch event, attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, underscores the government's recognition of Hormuud Telecom's contributions to the country's development. In his speech, the President congratulated the company for its significant impact on job creation and enhancing interconnectivity, crucial in the era of global technological evolution.

The President, who has led Somalia to pivotal milestones in recent months including debt relief and admission into the East African Community, commented: "We lived in this country without a telephone, we saw that airtime calls cost three dollars per minute, and today we have gone from the analogue to digital."

Telecommunications technology, he argued, has directly promoted efficiency in service delivery across several sectors of the economy, with education, health, economics, and finance being major beneficiaries.

The launch of the 5G network by Hormuud is poised to further invigorate trade within Somalia and extend its reach across borders, supporting the nation's growing sectors like the Blue Economy and construction. The network's availability in over 30 towns and cities, including the capital, Mogadishu, signifies a major leap towards achieving broader internet coverage and reliability.

The network will initially be accessible in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Galkayo and Baidoa, as well as Dhusamareeb, Beledwayne, Afgoye, Merca and Dhobley, offering 81% coverage.  The 5G rollout comes at no extra cost to existing Hormuud customers -- the current tariff of $20 a month for unlimited data remains, rivalling the cheapest data providers on the continent.

The nation's President praised Hormuud Telecom for its contribution to the creation of jobs nationwide. “Consider the effect of 35,000 workers for Hormuud. Each employee of Hormuud generates multiple sources of income for others, increasing the positive knock-on effect on the larger society," he said acknowledging the positive impact made by the company.

In addition, President Mohamud offered the company and other private entities the government's protection and complimented Hormuud Telecom on its efforts to facilitate communication throughout the nation.

“Similar to how international companies like Boeing, GMC, and Toyota receive government protection and are regarded as matters of national security and national interest for their countries, our companies, such as Hormuud, are national security and national interest," added the president.

President Mohamud's commitment to supporting private sector initiatives like Hormuud Telecom underscores a strategic approach to economic development through public-private partnerships, seeing the private sector as central to growth.

"We applaud and congratulate Hormuud Company and assure them that the Somali government is behind them and will provide them with all the necessary support”, stated President Mohamud.

GAROWE ONLINE