By Asma Abdullahi - Reporter
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Somalia, 22 June 2026 – Somalia’s Communications Authority convened its first workshop on submarine cable infrastructure to improve the resilience of the country's broadband resilience.
The two-day workshop, held in Nairobi in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation; brought together telecom operators, internet service providers and technical experts.
The workshop is part of the IFC-supnported Somali Unlocking Sector Investment Project, also known as the Broadband Infrastructure Project.
The Communications Authority said the workshop is intended to strengthen dialogue between the regulator and industry stakeholders, identify challenges facing Somalia’s submarine cable sector and agree on practical steps to improve the reliability of broadband infrastructure.
Somalia’s reliance on resilient internet infrastructure has grown as digital services expand across the country. DataReportal estimated Somalia had about 11.5 million active cellular mobile connections in late 2025, while the U.S. International Trade Administration says mobile money has an estimated 73% market penetration, making reliable broadband critical for banking, remittances, commerce, media and public services.
Discussions are focusing on outage management, competition, infrastructure development and implementation of Somalia’s submarine cable regulatory framework.
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The talks are expected to examine how operators and regulators can respond more quickly to cable outages, reduce service interruptions and improve coordination during disruptions.
The workshop is also reviewing findings from a recently completed report on Somalia’s telecommunications market, giving stakeholders an opportunity to validate the report’s findings and discuss priorities for the sector’s development.
Opening the workshop, National Communications Authority Director General Mustafa Yasin Sheikh said submarine cables were central to Somalia’s digital connectivity and economic growth.
“Submarine cables are the backbone of Somalia’s digital connectivity, supporting economic growth, innovation and access to essential services,” he said.
He said the technical working group would help improve cooperation between the regulator and private operators and support a more resilient communications infrastructure.
Somalia has increasingly relied on submarine cables to support internet connectivity, digital services and private-sector growth, making the resilience of cable landing infrastructure a key concern for regulators and operators.