Hormuud Telecom has launched 5G services across several parts of Somalia, becoming the first telco in the country to do so.

From yesterday (March 21), customers with 4G have received free upgrades to 5G plans.

The serviced has been switched on in parts of Mogadishu, Kismayo, Galkayo and Baidoa, Dhusamareeb, Beledwayne, Afgoye, Merca, and Dhobley.

Hormuud claims its 5G coverage across these locations is up to 81 percent.

The telco notes that 5G will enable it to support the deployment of IoT products that will upgrade Hormuud’s disaster management systems, using real-time sensors.

“As Somalia strides towards stability, the launch of 5G services by Hormuud Telecom emerges as a critical milestone," said Jama Hassan Khalif, Somalia's minister of telecommunication.

"This initiative is more than just a technological advancement; it’s a symbol of our nation’s commitment to growth and constant improvement."

Founded in 2002, Mogadishu-based Hormuud, which has an estimated four million subscribers in Somalia, received the country's first spectrum license back in 2022.

A developing mobile market, it's estimated that over 90 percent of Somalia's population has access to a mobile phone, with around 70 percent of the country covered by 4G services.

Somalia's network infrastructure has suffered in recent years, amid decades of civil war. Hormuud has previously blamed Somali militant group Al-Shabab for deliberately destroying telecoms infrastructure.