Editing Communications in Somalia (section)

==Internet==
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 163,185 in 2014 (156th in the world) or 1.51% of the population (156th in the world).<ref name="SO2014">{{cite web| url = http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users-by-country/| title = Internet Users by Country (2014)}}</ref> According to Global Internet, one of the largest Internet providers in central and southern Somalia, unofficial estimates on local Internet usage are higher, with 2.0% of the population estimated to have Internet access as of 2011.<ref name="Iagsis">{{cite news|title=Internet accessibility growing steadily in Somalia|url=http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/features/2012/10/15/feature-01|access-date=17 January 2014|newspaper=Sabahi|date=15 October 2012}}</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 186 hosts in 2012 (202nd in the world).<ref name="factbook"/> 
* [[IPv4]]: 10,240 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 1.0 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004113653/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html |date=4 October 2018 }}, [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>
* [[.so]] is the Internet [[top-level domain]] ([[ccTLD]]) for Somalia. After a long absence, the .so domain was officially relaunched in November 2010 by the .SO Registry. Regulated by the national Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication, the registrar offers several domain name spaces geared toward specific communities and interest groups:<ref name="Soreg">{{Cite web |url=http://www.soregistry.so/ |title=SO Registry |access-date=2014-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031021901/http://www.soregistry.so/ |archive-date=2014-10-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** ''.so'' – General usage
** ''com.so'' – Commercial enterprises
** ''net.so'' – Networks
** ''org.so'' – Non-profit organizations<ref name="Soreg"/>
** ''gov.so'' – Government agencies

According to the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) and the African Union/United Nations Information Support Team (IST), Somalia did not have systemic [[internet blocking]] or filtering as of December 2012. The application of content standards online was also unclear.<ref name="Csmlapr">{{cite web|title=Somalia: Media Law and Policy Review|url=http://www.law-democracy.org/live/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Somalia-Media-Law-Review.Dec12.final_.pdf|publisher=African Union/United Nations Information Support Team (IST) and the Centre for Law and Democracy |date=December 2012 |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref>

Somalia established its first ISP in 1999. According to the telecommunications resource Balancing Act, growth in internet connectivity has since then grown considerably, with around 53% of the entire nation covered as of 2009. Both internet commerce and telephony have consequently become among the quickest growing local businesses.<ref name="Scwhsgois">{{cite web|title=Somalia's civil war hides steady growth of internet services|url=http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-345/top-story/somalia-s-civil-war/en|work=Issue no 345|publisher=Balancing Act|access-date=17 January 2014|archive-date=17 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117023245/http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-345/top-story/somalia-s-civil-war/en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to the World Bank, the number of internet users in Somalia rose from only 200 in the year 2000 to 1.8% of the population in 2015, with the percentage continuing to rise. The number of mobile cellular subscriptions rose much faster, from 1.1 per 100 people in 2000 to 52.5 per 100 people in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Development Indicators|url=http://databank.worldbank.org/data/reports.aspx?source=2&country=SOM&series=&period=|website=DataBank|publisher=The World Bank|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref>

The Somali Telecommunication Association (STA), a watchdog organization that oversees the policy development and regulatory framework of Somalia's ICT sector, reported in 2006 that there were over half a million users of internet services within the territory. There were also 22 established ISPs and 234 cyber cafes, with an annual growth rate of 15.6%.<ref name="Scwhsgois"/>

As of 2009, dial up, wireless and satellite services were available. Dial up internet services in Somalia were among the fastest growing on the continent, with an annual landline growth rate of over 12.5%. The increase in usage was largely due to innovative policy initiatives adopted by the various Somali telecom operators, including free local in-town calls, a flat rate of $10 per month for unlimited calls, a low charge of $0.005 per minute for Internet connections, and a one-time connection fee of $50. Global Internet Company, a firm jointly owned by the major Somali telecommunication networks [[Hormuud Telecom]], [[Telcom (Somalia)|Telcom Somalia]] and [[NationLink Telecom|Nationlink]], was the country's largest ISP. It was at the time the only provider of dial up services in Somalia's south-central regions. In the northern [[Puntland]] and [[Somaliland]] regions, online networks offered internet dial up services to their own group of subscribers. Among these firms was [[Golis Telecom Somalia]] in the northeast and [[Telesom]] in the northwest.<ref name="Scwhsgois"/>

Broadband wireless services were offered by both dial up and non-dial up ISPs in major cities, such as [[Mogadishu]], [[Bosaso]], [[Hargeisa]], [[Galkayo]] and [[Kismayo]]. Pricing ranged from $150 to $300 a month for unlimited internet access, with bandwidth rates of 64&nbsp;kbit/s up and down. The main patrons of these wireless services were scholastic institutions, corporations, and UN, NGO and diplomatic missions. Mogadishu had the biggest subscriber base nationwide and was also the headquarters of the largest wireless internet services, among which were Dalkom (Wanaag HK), Orbit, Unitel and Webtel.<ref name="Scwhsgois"/>

As of 2009, Internet via satellite had a steady growth rate of 10% to 15% per year. It was particularly in demand in remote areas that did not have either dial up or wireless online services. The local telecommunications company Dalkom Somalia provided internet over satellite, as well as premium routes for media operators and content providers, and international voice gateway services for global carriers. It also offered inexpensive bandwidth through its internet backbone, whereas bandwidth ordinarily cost customers from $2,500 to $3,000 per month through the major international bandwidth providers. The main clients of these local satellite services were internet cafes, money transfer firms and other companies, as well as international community representatives. In total, there were over 300 local satellite terminals available across the nation, which were linked to teleports in Europe and Asia. Demand for the satellite services gradually began to fall as broadband wireless access rose. However, it increased in rural areas, as the main client base for the satellite services extended their operations into more remote locales.<ref name="Scwhsgois"/>

In December 2012, [[Hormuud Telecom]] launched its Tri-Band [[3G]] service for internet and mobile clients. The first of its kind in the country, this third generation mobile telecommunications technology offers users a faster and more secure connection.<ref name="Sgtgms">{{cite news |title=Somalia gets 3G mobile service |url=http://shabelle.net/somalia-gets-3g-mobile-service/ |access-date=31 December 2012 |newspaper=Shabelle Media Network |date=30 December 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108083430/http://shabelle.net/somalia-gets-3g-mobile-service/ |archive-date=8 January 2013 }}</ref>

In November 2013, Somalia received its first [[fiber optic]] connection. The country previously had to rely on expensive satellite links due to the civil conflict, which limited internet usage. However, residents now have access to broadband internet cable for the first time after an agreement reached between Hormuud Telecom and Liquid Telecom. The deal will see Liquid Telecom link Hormuud to its 17,000&nbsp;km (10,500 mile) network of terrestrial cables, which will deliver faster internet capacity. The fiber optic connection will also make online access more affordable to the average user. This in turn is expected to further increase the number of internet users.<ref name="Iusfaa">{{cite web|title=Internet Usage Statistics for Africa|url=http://www.somalitechnews.com/internet-usage-statistics-for-africa/|publisher=Somali Technology News|access-date=17 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201144935/http://www.somalitechnews.com/internet-usage-statistics-for-africa/|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Sgffolttw">{{cite news|title=Somalia gets first fiber optic link to the world|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_gets_first_fiber_optic_link_to_the_world_printer.shtml|access-date=17 January 2014|newspaper=Garowe Online|date=12 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203161647/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_gets_first_fiber_optic_link_to_the_world_printer.shtml|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Dalkom Somalia reached a similar agreement with the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) Ltd, which it holds shares in. Effective the first quarter of 2014, the deal will establish fiber optic connectivity to and from Somalia via the [[EASSy]] cable. The new services are expected to reduce the cost of international bandwidth and to better optimize performance, thereby further broadening internet access. Dalkom Somalia is concurrently constructing a {{convert|2600|km2|adj=on}} state-of-the-art data center in Mogadishu. The site will facilitate direct connection into the international fiber optic network by hosting equipment for all of the capital's ISPs and telecommunication companies.<ref name="Smgifc">{{cite web|title=Somalia: Mogadishu Gets International Fiber Connectivity|url=http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-681/telecoms/somalia-mogadishu-ge/en|work=Issue no 681 15th November 2013|publisher=Balancing Act|access-date=17 January 2014|archive-date=1 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201095210/http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-681/telecoms/somalia-mogadishu-ge/en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Starlink ===
[[Starlink]], the satellite internet service operated by [[SpaceX]], became available in Somalia in April 2025. [[Elon Musk]], SpaceX founder, announced the launch on social media, while the [[Federal Government of Somalia|Somali government]] confirmed it had issued a license to the company. According to Mustafa Yasiin, director of communication at the [[Ministry of Communications and Technology (Somalia)|Ministry of Telecommunications]], the government had been in discussions with Starlink for over two years. Authorities hoped the service would improve internet quality and expand access to remote areas.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Shah |first1=Chandni |last2=Sheikh |first2=Abdi |date=13 April 2025 |title=Musk says Starlink now available in Somalia |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/musk-says-starlink-now-available-somalia-2025-04-13/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref>