Investigative Reports

Security Reform vs. Security Risk: Weighing the Implications of Somaliland’s Military Biometric System

Key Points Somaliland's biometric registration of security personnel aims to...

The Diplomacy of Gullibility: How Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry Keeps Falling for International Fraudsters

In what has become a familiar scene in Somaliland's...

Ex-US Ambassador to Somalia Lobbies for Hormuud’s Access to American Banking System

Questions mount as André partners with Somali MP who...

Telesom and SOMTEL Telecom Operators sign Interconnectivity Agreement

According to a statement from the Ministry of Telecommunication and Technology, Telesom and SOMTEL have signed a telecom interconnect agreement that will enable users of either network to communicate with each other. The statement does not specify if the interconnectivity will cost the user additional fees.

Telecommunication operators of Somaliland have agreed on February 8th to own equal shares of the fiber optic network in Somaliland, previously owned by SOMCABLE, with a minor share purchased the government of Somaliland at the cost of 1.6 million US dollars.

2022 Budget allocation for the government’s share of the land-based fiber optic.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Telesom, which dominates Somaliland’s mobile phone and mobile money markets, has been resisting carrier interconnectivity with SOMTEL, but stipulation in the fiber agreement includes clauses that have paved the way for today’s interconnectivity agreement.

CEOs of SOMTEL, Telesom and SOMCABLE sign Fiber agreement with the Government of Somaliland on February 8th

“The main challenge is the tough competition between the two leading operators in the country. Their competition covers every side in the telecom, like pricing, subsidization, and the infrastructure.  By taking those factors into consideration, the Ministry has developed Interconnection Regulations and roadmap that will guide the telecom interconnection. Similarly, the Ministry has brought together both Telecom operators and has hosted negotiations between the operators to solve issues and start interconnection service. The parties conducted several meetings at the Ministry premises. Therefore, the Ministry is working to enable this service to the Somaliland population soon.” Dr. Abdiweli Abdillahi Soufi, the Minister of Telecommunication and Technology said on interconnectivity.

The success of ZAAD mobile money which is based on the Telesom network is largely based on its market dominance, it’s unclear if the new agreement between Telesom and SOMTEL will affect Telesom’s competitive advantage over SOMTEL which historically struggled to catch up both in cell service and mobile money. The agreement announced by the Ministry of Telecommunication and Technology did not mention if the interconnect will affect the mobile money aspects of the telecom operators.

This is not the first time the Somaliland government has announced an agreement to interconnect telecom operators. It’s unclear the agreement is legally binding and what measures the Ministry of Telecommunication and Technology will take if SOMTEL and Telesom cannot complete the interconnectivity.

Telesom Debt collection letter to the government of Somaliland

Somaliland government maintains little to no leverage over telecom operators, which are also Somaliland’s largest financial institutions and government creditors.

Although cellphone penetration in Somaliland is higher than in many countries in Africa and the developing world, some basic services such as voicemail, call waiting, and 911 equivalent systems to help first responders locate and render emergency services are not deployed by telecom operators.

Attempts to reach the Minister of Telecommunication and Technology, Dr. Abdiweli Abdillahi Soufi, and officials from SOMTEL and Telesom for comments were unsuccessful.

Latest

Somalia Under New Management: How Kampala Became Mogadishu’s New Capital

In a dramatic shift of regional power dynamics that...

The Khatumo Dilemma and the Legacy of Clan-Based Politics in Somalia

The political choices of the Khatumo community have long...

Turkey’s Shadowy Deal: Exploiting Somalia’s Resources Under the Guise of Partnership

Turkey's recent energy agreements with Somalia raise serious concerns...

Advancing health equity and promoting a healthier Taiwan on the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system

Dr. Chiu Tai-yuanMinister of Health and WelfareROC (Taiwan) Health is...

Stay Connected

Don't miss

Somalia Under New Management: How Kampala Became Mogadishu’s New Capital

In a dramatic shift of regional power dynamics that...

The Khatumo Dilemma and the Legacy of Clan-Based Politics in Somalia

The political choices of the Khatumo community have long...

Turkey’s Shadowy Deal: Exploiting Somalia’s Resources Under the Guise of Partnership

Turkey's recent energy agreements with Somalia raise serious concerns...

Advancing health equity and promoting a healthier Taiwan on the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system

Dr. Chiu Tai-yuanMinister of Health and WelfareROC (Taiwan) Health is...

Somaliland President Unveils Military Reserve in First Parliament Address

Hargeisa, April 20, 2025 - President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi...

Somalia Under New Management: How Kampala Became Mogadishu’s New Capital

In a dramatic shift of regional power dynamics that has gone largely unnoticed by Western media, Somalia has effectively ceded significant control over its...

The Khatumo Dilemma and the Legacy of Clan-Based Politics in Somalia

The political choices of the Khatumo community have long perplexed many observers, myself included. Their decision to pursue a federal arrangement with the Federal...

Turkey’s Shadowy Deal: Exploiting Somalia’s Resources Under the Guise of Partnership

Turkey's recent energy agreements with Somalia raise serious concerns about neo-colonial exploitation, masking a power grab under the veneer of economic cooperation. While Turkey...