By Asma Mohamud - Reporter
Somalia, 5 May 2026 Hormuud Telecom and retailer Get Phone launched phone loans to boost digital access, targeting low-income users priced out of the market, the companies said.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday, introduces an interest-free model that allows customers to acquire smartphones through small upfront deposits followed by flexible repayments via mobile money, according to a joint statement.
How ZTE & GetPhone are Leading Somalia’s Digital Revolution.
The programme is designed to address affordability challenges in a country where mobile services are widespread but smartphone ownership remains uneven.
Under the model, users can pay around $0.60 per day to access both a smartphone and a daily bundle that includes 1GB of data and 40 minutes of calls, compared with an average daily spend of about $0.50 for similar connectivity services without a device.
Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama said smartphones are critical tools for economic participation.
“A smartphone today is far more than a device; it is a gateway to commerce, education, financial inclusion, and opportunity,” he said.
“In the hands of our citizens, it becomes a powerful tool for empowerment and productivity.”
The first phase of the programme will roll out 10,000 devices by June, with plans to scale up to 100,000 devices by the end of the year as the initiative expands to other regions, including Puntland and Somaliland.
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Hormuud Telecom Chairman Ahmed Yusuf said the partnership aims to remove a key barrier to digital access.
“For 20 years, we have built a network that we believe can transform Somalia. The barrier is not the mast in the distance; it is the handset in the pocket,” he said.
“Today, we are removing that barrier.”
The programme uses a telecom-based credit scoring system that evaluates customers based on SIM usage and mobile money activity, removing the need for traditional collateral or banking requirements.
Get Phone Chief Executive Officer Omar Abdi said the model is designed to unlock potential among underserved users.
“This programme is built on the belief that when you give people access to the right tools at the right price, they will do extraordinary things,” he said.
If payments are missed, access to services is temporarily restricted rather than penalised, with repayment periods extended accordingly.
The initiative follows a pilot phase in Mogadishu earlier this year, which recorded default rates below 4 per cent and strong uptake among low-income users.
Somalia has one of Africa’s most advanced mobile money ecosystems, with more than 70 per cent of the population covered by 4G networks, but access to smartphones has remained a key barrier to broader digital inclusion.
The programme is expected to support participation in digital financial services, e-commerce and skills development, as Somalia seeks to expand its digital economy.