Somtel kicks off coverage in Hargeisa with the mobile payments parent eDahab
Somtel has launched 5G in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, in conjunction with eDahab, the giant mobile payments provider. It claims to be the first operator in the region to launch a 5G network.
Other African countries that have launched 5G include South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
Somtel was founded in 1998 and is a publicly traded company registered in the British Virgin Islands. UAE-based MTO Dahabshiil has held about 95% of its shares since 2008. The eDahab money transfer service runs on the Somtel SIM card and Dahabshil’s money transfer platform.
Somtel previously brought 4G to the region, introduced VoLTE and eSIM technology, and launched Bluekom Fiber services.
“We are incredibly proud our Somtel colleagues have launched a 5G network,” said Abdirashid Duale, CEO of Dahabshiil Group.
He added, “It is hoped that this technology and services will enable people to trade, work, and interconnect more closely, bringing cultures and economies together,” Duale added.
Somtel and eDahab’s services are designed to digitalise traditional nomadic culture, enabling people to trade, communicate, educate themselves, and watch films and football no matter where they are in the world.
Somaliland is an autonomous region, which broke away and declared independence from Somalia in 1991. No foreign power, nor Somalia, recognises Somaliland’s sovereignty, but it is self-governing with an independent government and population of about 3.5 million.
As we went to press, Somalia dismissed a pact between Somaliland signed with Ethiopia which allows Ethiopia use of a major port with access to the Red Sea in return for recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.