12/2/2024
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Somalia joins global initiative to protect submarine cables
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    Sunday December 1, 2024


    FILE - Mustafa Yasin Sheik, Director General of Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA), pictured during a virtual meeting. CREDIT / SONNA

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Mustafa Yasin Sheik, Director General of Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA), has been appointed to the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience. The newly formed body, established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), addresses growing challenges to undersea cable infrastructure, which carries more than 99% of international data traffic.

    Somalia’s inclusion in this initiative is a testament to its rapid strides in digital transformation. Over the past decade, the country has connected to five international submarine cables, including the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1 (DARE1). These advancements have bolstered internet connectivity, fueling economic growth and innovation.

    The International Advisory Body, established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), brings together leaders from government, industry, and academia to address vulnerabilities in submarine cables. Members include representatives from all six ITU regions.

    Somalia’s strategic position along the Horn of Africa makes it a vital hub for regional and global connectivity. Successive Somali government has prioritized creating regulatory frameworks to support digital infrastructure, collaborating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to address challenges such as environmental impact and equitable infrastructure sharing.

    The Advisory Body, co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, and Portugal’s Prof. Sandra Maximiano, will meet biannually. Its first virtual meeting is set for December 2024, followed by an inaugural summit in Abuja, Nigeria, in February 2025.

    Key objectives include improving cable maintenance, reducing recovery times after disruptions, and promoting sustainable practices in the industry. Somalia’s participation underscores its readiness to contribute to global solutions while addressing its domestic needs.

    Somalia’s reliance on stable internet connectivity continues to grow, with nearly two million internet users as of 2021—approximately 12% of its population. By 2022, this figure had increased to 27.6%, reflecting significant progress in digital connectivity. 

    However, the country’s vulnerability to disruptions in submarine cable infrastructure was starkly demonstrated in 2017 when a ship severed an undersea fibre optic cable. The incident caused a nationwide internet outage lasting over three weeks, resulting in estimated economic losses of $10 million per day.

     





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