Mustafa Yasin Sheik, the Director General of Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA), has been appointed to the newly established International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.
This initiative, developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), is designed to tackle the increasing challenges faced by undersea cable infrastructure that carries over 99% of global data traffic.
Somalia’s participation in this initiative highlights the country’s significant progress in digital transformation. Over the last ten years, Somalia has successfully connected to five international submarine cables, including the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and the Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1 (DARE1). These advancements have greatly enhanced internet connectivity, driving economic growth and innovation across the nation.
The International Advisory Body, which is composed of leaders from governmental sectors, industry, and academia, aims to address the vulnerabilities linked to submarine cables. Its membership includes representatives from all six ITU regions.
Strategically located in the Horn of Africa, Somalia is a crucial hub for regional and global connectivity. The Somali government has continuously focused on developing regulatory frameworks that support digital infrastructure while collaborating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to tackle challenges like environmental impacts and equitable infrastructure sharing.
This Advisory Body, co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, and Portugal’s Prof. Sandra Maximiano, will convene biannually. The first meeting is scheduled as a virtual event in December 2024, followed by an inaugural summit in Abuja, Nigeria, in February 2025.
Key goals of the body include enhancing cable maintenance, minimizing recovery times during disruptions, and encouraging sustainable practices within the industry. Somalia’s involvement signifies its commitment to contributing to global solutions while addressing its internal challenges.
The demand for stable internet connectivity in Somalia continues to rise. Nearly two million internet users were reported in 2021—about 12% of the population. By 2022, this number had grown to 27.6%, indicating a marked advancement in digital connectivity.
Nonetheless, Somalia’s vulnerability to submarine cable disruptions was notably highlighted in 2017 when a ship accidentally severed an undersea fibre optic cable. This incident led to a nationwide internet outage lasting over three weeks, resulting in estimated economic losses of US$10 million daily.
