O3b and Somtel to boost connectivity in Somalia 

November 13, 2013

O3b Networks announced an agreement to provide high-speed, low-latency capacity to Somtel. Somtel, headquartered in Hargeisa, Somaliland is one of the leading telecommunications company in Somalia with over 500 employees providing a comprehensive range of mobile voice and data services including 3G and the first 4G network to customers in Somalia. 

Somtel has contracted substantial O3bTrunk capacity in Somalia as it seeks to serve growing consumer and corporate demand in its core markets. The O3b service is due to formally launch in 2014. O3b will transform communications in Africa by deploying a unique, next generation satellite constellation that will  offer ISPs, mobile operators, businesses and government customers high quality, ultra-fast and affordable connection to the global internet backbone.  

O3bTrunk brings new options for profitable and timely expansion for Telcos, ISPs and corporate network providers. The O3bTrunk products offer lower delay than long haul fiber with  a round trip latency of less than 150 milliseconds, delivering the highest quality voice and video in the satellite industry at an affordable cost.

The O3b network will deliver global broadband connectivity for emerging and insufficiently connected markets in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific region, with a collective population of over 3 billion people.  

Ismail Dualeh, CTO of SomteL, said, "At present, connectivity is neither reliable nor adequate in Somalia. The O3b solution will give Somtel the chance to bring vastly improved internet connectivity with better performance.  Customers will experience greater reliability, better quality voice calls and be able to stream video  and enroll in e-learning amongst other applications. .”  

Omar Trujillo, VP Africa and LATAM for O3b said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Somtel in Somalia. This is another great example of how the O3b solution can help bring a bandwidth starved region new opportunities for domestic and international growth and development. With the lack of fiber options in the Somali Republic, and the cost and latency issues associated with geostationary satellites, O3b is well placed to support many customers in Africa.”