Somalia currently has very few, if any, domestic fiber optic cable manufacturers, with most fiber optic infrastructure supplied by international companies and implemented by local telecom operators.

Overview of the Market

Somalia's fiber optic market is rapidly growing due to increasing internet demand and investments in 4G LTE and upcoming 5G networks by major operators such as Hormuud, Somtel, and Telcom Somalia . The country is connected to global internet networks through submarine cables like the East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and DARE1, with 2Africa under development . These networks rely on high-quality fiber optic cables, but the manufacturing of these cables is largely handled by international suppliers, such as Kocent Optec Limited, which provides FTTA solutions to Somali enterprises .

Local Industry Role

Local companies, including Somtel FGC, primarily focus on network deployment, backbone management, and service provision rather than manufacturing fiber optic cables . They engineer high-bandwidth solutions and maintain extensive fiber networks across Somalia and neighboring countries, but they source the physical cables from international manufacturers . Similarly, Dalkom Somalia operates as a major shareholder in submarine cable systems and manages terrestrial fiber networks, but it does not manufacture cables domestically .

Conclusion

Based on available information, Somalia does not have a significant domestic fiber optic cable manufacturing industry. The market relies on international manufacturers for cable production, while local companies focus on deployment, network management, and service delivery. Therefore, the number of actual fiber optic cable manufacturers based in Somalia is likely very small or zero, with most activity concentrated in importing and installing cables from global suppliers .