In my final project I had the absence of information communication technology (ICT) policies and technological development in Somalia.

1. BY ENG. JAMA ABDI HUSSEIN

2. INTRODUCTION
Technology in Somalia encompasses the
communications services and capacity of Somalia.
Telecommunications, internet, radio, print, television and
postal services in the nation are largely concentrated in
the private sector. Several of the telecom firms have
begun expanding their activities abroad. The federal
government operates two official radio and television
networks, which exist alongside a number of private and
foreign stations. Print media in the country is also
progressively giving way to news radio stations and
online portals, as internet connectivity and access
increases.

3. INTRODUCTION…
In 2017, a National Communications Act was also
approved by Cabinet members, and 2nd October,
2017, the president of Somalia finally signed the
National Communications Law, and became the
official Law that regulated the ICT industry. Under
that Law, National Communications Authority (NCA)
of the federal Republic of Somalia has been
established, with board of directors and a general
manager.

4. INTRODUCTION…
After the start of the Civil War in 1991, various new
telecommunications companies began to spring up
in the country and competed to provide missing
infrastructure (. Somalia now offers some of the most
technologically advanced and competitively priced
telecommunications and internet services in the
world. Funded by Somali entrepreneurs and backed
by expertise from China, Korea and Europe, these
nascent telecommunications firms offer affordable
mobile phone and internet services that are not
available in many other parts of the continent.

5. INTRODUCTION…
Customers can conduct money transfer (such as through
the popular Salam and Dahabshiil) and other
banking activities via mobile phones, as well as easily
gain wireless internet access
Regulation
Somalia's telecommunication sector is governed by only
National Communications Law (also called the Telecoms
Act) that was signed into law by president Mohamed
Abdullahi Farmajo on 2 October 2017, after passing the
Cabinet and the two Houses of Parliament (Senate and
House of the People). It entered into effect immediately.

6. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Somalia‘s ICT market consists of 11 operators and 4
million mobile connections, but teledensity is only about
7% and the proportion of Internet users is only about 1%.
However, ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors and
the third largest industry by employment in the country.
The sector employs around 25,000 Somalis, generates
substantial profit and has enabled a mobile penetration
rate of 7 subscriptions per 100 people. Most readily
available ICT media are radio and mobile phones. The
TV and press sectors are weak, with radio being the
dominant medium. The country has around 20 radio
stations. 86% of households have access to radio and
26% to TV.

7. PROBLEM STATEMENT..
The Information Communication Technology (ICT)
sector in Somalia has flourished under a self-
regulated private sector regime and is known to be a
key contributor to the economy. Somalia‘s ICT
market consists of 11 operators and 4 million mobile
connections, but teledensity is only about 7% and
the proportion of Internet users is only about 1%.
However, ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors
and the third largest industry by employment in the
country.

8. PROBLEM STATEMENT…
The sector employs around 25,000 Somalis,
generates substantial profit and has enabled a
mobile penetration rate of 7 subscriptions per 100
people. Most readily available ICT media are radio
and mobile phones. The TV and press sectors are
weak, with radio being the dominant medium. The
country has around 20 radio stations. 86% of
households have access to radio and 26% to TV.
Radio and TV sub-sectors need to be further
developed as employment and revenue generating
sectors.

9. PROBLEM STATEMENT…
According to Compare Needs Assessment of ICT Sector
in Somalia‘, FGS and African Development Bank (AfDB),
July 2014, Somalia lacks an ICT policy and regulation to
guide infrastructure roll-out as well as the development of
ICT applications such as mobile money transfer. The
country‘s volatile security and lack of stable energy
sources greatly hinder growth in the ICT sector. Low
literacy and ICT skill levels among vast groups of the
population limit demand for ICT services in the country.
Hence this has made the development of ICT very low
and it is taking place only in urban areas by the private
sector only without government involvement with clear
policies to promote the development of ICT in Somalia.

10. THE SOLUTIONS
1. There should be establishment of ICT Policy and
strategy. The goal of this Policy should be to facilitate
Somalia’s digital transformation to a knowledge-based
and inclusive society, and to accelerate socio-economic
development toward fulfilling the Sustainable
Development Goals
2. There should be extension of the national ICT backbone
infrastructure to connect all major urban centres in
Somalia with redundant/duplicate links (to ensure
reliability), as well as addressing last mile challenges to
ensure universal access to broadband including efficient
interconnection and expansion of 3/4G mobile coverage
by the Government of Somalia.

11. THE SOULTIONS…
3. The government of Somalia should ensure that
critical ICT infrastructure is protected by establishing
a Cybersecurity and Privacy group to oversee the
development and enforcement of national
cybersecurity policies, and develop a Computer
Emergency Response Team (CERT)
4. The government through its ministry of gender
should facilitate the increase of role of women, youth
and persons with disabilities in ICT.

12. THE SOLUTIONS…
5. Government must strengthen ICT institutional
structures with clear responsibilities. In this respect the
key roles of government in the ICT sector should include:
Strategic leadership and coordination in promoting the
use of ICT
Ensuring there is an enabling environment for the
deployment ICT infrastructure
Providing support for ensuring access is affordable and
available to all members of Somali society
Supporting the adoption of ICTs within government, both
for internal administration and for transactions with the
public and business.

13. THE SOLUTIONS…
6. There should be clear set up of legal and Regulatory
Frameworks on ICT management in Somalia. In
Somalia gaps currently exist in legal and regulatory
support for the ICT sector which should be addressed.
It is necessary that there should be a legal framework
in alignment with requirements of the information
economy and international best practices for
engendering trust and confidence amongst all
stakeholders. In this respect, the ICT regulator (NCA)
should aim to ensure its credibility as independent,
effective, transparent and fair in ensuring adherence to
legal provisions and regulatory practices.

14. THE SOLUTIONS…
7. The government of Somalia should
promote E-commerce, Consumer
Protection and Data Privacy. The advent of
the digital economy and e-commerce
offers many potential opportunities for
increased efficiency of doing business and
access to new markets with greater
Consumer Protection and Data Privacy
legislation to protect consumer rights.

15. CONCLUSION
The need for the establishment of a clear ICT
Policies in Somalia by the Somalia government will
help to curb the challenges delaying the
development of ICT sector in Somalia and it will
definitely promote rapid development of ICT Sector
in Somalia. However the ICT policies must as well
be supported by clear and functional legal
framework, infrastructure development countrywide,
promotion of E-Commerce and Data Privacy and
then increase of role of women, youth and persons
with disabilities in ICT in Somalia.

16. REFERENCE
Ministry of Information, Posts and
Telecommunications Archived 2013-06-03 at the Wayback Machine,
Government of Somalia, 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
Central Intelligence Agency (2011). "Somalia". The World Factbook.
Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
"Hormuud, Somtel, Nationlink sign interconnection deal".
TeleGeography. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
Compare Needs Assessment of ICT Sector in Somalia‘, FGS and
AfDB, July 2014
Christopher J. Coyne, After war: the political economy of exporting
democracy, (Stanford University Press, 2008),
World radio TV handbook, (Billboard Publications., 1955).