Telecoms and internet
Somali telecoms, internet and media companies: directory
This directory lists 26 Somali telecoms, internet and media companies, with the year founded, head office and a source for each. Phone networks such as Hormuud, Telesom, Golis and Somtel run the mobile money services most Somalis use. The media rows cover the main television, radio and online outlets.
About this list
Somalia's phone market is run by private companies. A 2019 Clingendael study found that Hormuud, its Somaliland counterpart Telesom and Golis in Puntland together held about 81 percent of SIM cards, and Dahabshiil's Somtel about 16 percent (Clingendael, Transnational capital in Somalia, 2019, box 7). The National Communications Authority licenses operators (NCA licence register). Media rows come mainly from Wikipedia's lists of Somali media companies (Wikipedia, Mass media companies of Somalia).
Telecoms and internet
| Company | Type | Founded | Head office | Owner or head, and status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amtel | Telecoms and internet | mail.nca.gov.so | |||
| Global Internet Company | Telecoms and internet | Mogadishu | Hormuud, NationLink and Telcom | Wikipedia | |
| Golis Telecom | Telecoms and internet | 2002 | Bosaso | Abdiaziz Guureeye Karshe (chairman) | Wikipedia |
| Hormuud Telecom | Telecoms and internet | 2002 | Mogadishu | Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf (chairman and CEO) | Wikipedia |
| NationLink Telecom | Telecoms and internet | 1997 | Mogadishu | Abdirizak Ido (founder) | Wikipedia |
| Netco | Telecoms and internet | 1993 | Bosaso | Ismael Haji Abdi (owner) | Wikipedia |
| Somafone | Telecoms and internet | 2003 | Mogadishu | Wikipedia | |
| Somali Telecom Group (STG) | Telecoms and internet | 1993 | Dubai | Wikipedia | |
| SomCable | Telecoms and internet | 2010 | Hargeisa | Mohamed Said Guedi (founder) | Wikipedia |
| Somtel | Telecoms and internet | 2009 | Hargeisa | Dahabshiil group (95%) | Wikipedia |
| Telcom | Telecoms and internet | 1997 | Mogadishu | Wikipedia | |
| Telesom | Telecoms and internet | 2002 | Hargeisa | Abdikarim Mohamed Eid (CEO) | Wikipedia |
Media companies
| Company | Type | Founded | Head office | Owner or head, and status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Voice | Media | Mogadishu | Wikipedia | ||
| Eastern Television Network | Media | 2005 | Bosaso | Wikipedia | |
| Garowe Online | Media | 2004 | Garowe | Garowe News Group | Wikipedia |
| Goobjoog Media | Media | 2012 | Mogadishu | Wikipedia | |
| Hiiraan Online | Media | 1999 | Ottawa | Ahmed Gure (founder) | Wikipedia |
| Horn Cable Television | Media | 2003 | Hargeisa | Farhan Haji Ali (owner) | Wikipedia |
| HornAfrik | Media | 1999 | Mogadishu | Ahmed Abdisalam, Mohamed Elmi, Ali Iman Sharmarke (founders); closed 2010 | Wikipedia |
| Puntland Post | Media | 2001 | Garowe | Wikipedia | |
| Radio Dalsan | Media | 2012 | Mogadishu | Wikipedia | |
| Radio Gaalkacyo | Media | 1993 | Galkayo | Wikipedia | |
| Shabelle Media Network | Media | 2002 | Mogadishu | Abdimaalik Yusuf Banna (owner) | Wikipedia |
| Somali Broadcasting Corporation | Media | 2001 | Bosaso | Wikipedia | |
| Somali Cable TV | Media | 2015 | Mogadishu | Wikipedia | |
| Universal TV | Media | 2005 | London | Licence withdrawn in Somaliland 2025 | Wikipedia |
For the sector as a whole, see Telecoms, Who connects Somalia and Somali media companies. For the mobile money services, see EVC Plus, Zaad, Sahal and eDahab.
Sources
- Clingendael, Transnational capital in Somalia, 2019, box 7 · kpsrl.org
- NCA licence register · mail.nca.gov.so
- Wikipedia, Mass media companies of Somalia · en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
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- Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
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Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Hargeysa (Hargeisa) and Woqooyi GalbeedWoqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Boosaaso (Bosaso) and BariBari is Puntland's north-east region, with the port city of Bosaso (Boosaaso) as its capital and about 1.28 million people.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
- Gaalkacyo (Galkayo) and MudugMudug is a region of central Somalia with about 1.5 million people, split between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south.
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- EVC Plus: Hormuud's mobile money serviceEVC Plus in facts: what it is, when it started, the 2021 licence, user numbers, the GSMA certification, links to banks and the Waafi app, and its use for aid payments.
- WAAFI: the Somali mobile money app and cardWAAFI in facts: the 2021 launch by Hormuud, what the app does, the companies behind it, the 2024 Waafi Mastercard card and how it fits with EVC Plus.
- Zaad: Telesom's mobile money service in SomalilandZaad in facts: the 2009 launch by Telesom, how it was built, merchants and salaries, the dollar and money changers, usage figures, currency exchange and the 2024 GSMA certification.
- Sahal: Golis Telecom's mobile money service in PuntlandSahal in facts: launch by Golis Telecom, how to register and what it does, how customer money is held, its use for local taxes in Puntland, and its certifications.
- eDahab: the Dahabshiil group's mobile money serviceeDahab in facts: who owns it, how it links to Dahabshiil and Somtel, the 2018 Somaliland shilling rule, the 2018 launch in Mogadishu, and its links with banks.
- Hormuud Telecom: Somalia's largest phone and mobile money companyHormuud Telecom in facts: founding, owners, EVC Plus and WAAFI, network coverage, cables, licences, jobs and its foundation.