Hormuud Telecom

Hormuud Telecom is a privately held telecommunications company headquartered in Mogadishu and one of the most significant private-sector businesses in Somalia. Established in 2002 by a small group of shareholders, the company began with 16 telecommunications sites and built its business around restoring and expanding communications infrastructure in a country where the formal telecommunications system had been severely disrupted. Its initial services included fixed-line telephony and GSM mobile communications, followed by successive generations of mobile data, broadband, enterprise connectivity and digital financial services. Hormuud’s most influential offering is EVC Plus, a mobile-money service that enables person-to-person and merchant payments, airtime and data purchases, account management and cash transfers through mobile devices. The service became an important component of Somalia’s largely mobile-based financial system, particularly for customers who have limited access to conventional banking. In 2021, the Central Bank of Somalia issued Hormuud its first mobile-money licence, formalising the regulatory status of EVC Plus. The company subsequently developed interoperability arrangements with local banks, allowing users to connect mobile wallets with banking services. The company has expanded beyond basic voice connectivity. Its portfolio includes 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mobile services, fixed-line connections, public Wi-Fi, portable MiFi devices, ADSL Plus, enterprise internet and bulk messaging. In 2021, Hormuud launched WAAFI, an integrated mobile application combining communications, mobile money, payments, banking access, remittances and other digital services. In 2024, it introduced 5G in more than 30 Somali towns and cities, upgrading existing 4G customers without an additional charge according to company and industry accounts. It also participated in the introduction of contactless payments through a tokenised digital companion card and physical card for WAAFI users. Hormuud has a substantial humanitarian and social-impact role. Its Hormuud Salaam Foundation, created in 2009, supports charitable and community activities and is described in reference material as Somalia’s first corporate foundation. The company has donated to the Somali health system during the COVID-19 pandemic, supported commission-free cash transfers for humanitarian organisations responding to floods, and created a humanitarian portal that helps aid agencies distribute traceable cash assistance through its mobile-money network. During public emergencies, it has also used customer communication channels to deliver health and safety messages. The company is reported to serve more than 3.6 million subscribers and to employ more than 20,000 full-time and part-time workers, making it one of Somalia’s largest private employers. It operates customer-service centres and network infrastructure in urban and rural areas, with its principal operating footprint historically concentrated in southern and central Somalia. Hormuud became Somalia’s first private corporation to receive international ISO certification, according to the company’s reference profile. Its strategic priorities include extending affordable broadband, strengthening digital payments, supporting humanitarian connectivity and contributing to climate-adaptation initiatives. Exact current subscriber, employee, coverage and ownership figures vary by reporting date and should be verified against the company’s latest disclosures.

Hormuud Telecom was established in Mogadishu in 2002 by a small group of shareholders. It began operations with 16 telecommunications sites, launching fixed telephone services and GSM mobile communications in the same year. The company’s early development took place in a difficult operating environment, but mobile connectivity became a practical means of linking households, businesses and communities across Somalia. Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf joined the company in 2002 and is identified in reference material as its chief executive. Hormuud gradually broadened its network and service portfolio. It introduced mobile-money transfer through EVC Plus in the early 2010s, creating a digital-wallet service that could be used for transfers, purchases, airtime and account functions. The service became particularly important in a market where conventional banking access was limited. Hormuud added Tri-Band 3G in December 2012, followed by public Wi-Fi through Hormuud Hotspot in 2013. In 2014 it introduced Hormuud Mifi, ADSL Plus, Enterprise Internet and My SMS, while also trialling 4G services. Network capacity and 4G coverage were expanded from 2015 in cooperation with Somalia’s telecommunications authorities. In July 2014, Hormuud joined NationLink and Somtel in an interconnection agreement that enabled customers on the participating networks to communicate with one another. The arrangement was associated with the Somali Telecommunication Company framework and represented an effort to improve network-to-network connectivity in a fragmented market. The company developed a parallel social-impact structure. In 2009 it launched the Hormuud Salaam Foundation, a charitable arm that supports social and community initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hormuud made donations to Somalia’s healthcare system and adapted some customer communication services to carry public-health information. In 2019, it supported humanitarian organisations responding to floods by enabling commission-free bulk cash transfers. It also developed a humanitarian portal that uses the company’s mobile-money infrastructure to distribute aid to recipients in difficult-to-reach locations. A significant institutional milestone came in 2020, when Hormuud became the first private corporation in Somalia to receive ISO certification, according to the company’s published profile. In February 2021, the Central Bank of Somalia issued the first mobile-money licence to Hormuud, formally regulating EVC Plus. That year the company also launched WAAFI, described in reference material as Somalia’s first indigenous mobile-money application. WAAFI combined mobile payments with communications, remittances, online transactions and access to banking functions, extending the capabilities of the company’s earlier USSD-based services. Hormuud announced an ambition in 2021 to achieve nationwide 4G coverage by 2023, with particular attention to rural users still dependent on 2G. The company continued to position connectivity as an economic-development and humanitarian tool. Its humanitarian portal received recognition at the Africa Tech Festival in 2022, and WAAFI received a GSMA-related Changing Lives award the same year. In 2023, Hormuud hosted the Somali Success Stories conference, bringing together public officials, industry participants and businesses to discuss innovation and economic growth. It also worked with the GSMA’s Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation programme to encourage mobile-money-enabled aid disbursement. In 2024, Hormuud launched 5G service in more than 30 Somali towns and cities, including Mogadishu and several regional centres. The rollout was presented as an upgrade for existing 4G customers at no additional cost. The company also participated in a contactless-payments initiative with Salaam Somali Bank, Mastercard, Telesom, Golis and Paymentology, giving WAAFI users access to tokenised digital and physical payment cards. In the same year, Hormuud signed a memorandum of understanding with Somalia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Salaam Somali Bank concerning investment in green climate-adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Ahmed Yusuf received two industry leadership recognitions in 2024, being named CXO of the Year at the Africa Tech Festival and CEO of the Year at the World Communications Awards. Hormuud’s present business combines mobile telecommunications, broadband, enterprise connectivity, mobile money and humanitarian distribution. Reference material describes more than 3.6 million subscribers, approximately three million EVC Plus users, more than 20,000 full-time and part-time workers and a large network of customer-service centres. These figures are time-sensitive, while ownership and shareholder information is not sufficiently documented here for a definitive corporate-ownership statement.

1. 20245G rollout and contactless payments

   Hormuud launched 5G in more than 30 locations and joined a WAAFI contactless-payments initiative.

   Source
2. 2021Mobile-money licence and WAAFI launch

   The Central Bank of Somalia licensed EVC Plus, and Hormuud launched the WAAFI application.

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3. 2020ISO certification

   Hormuud became the first private Somali corporation described in the reference material as internationally ISO certified.

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4. 2014Interconnection agreement and 4G trial

   Hormuud joined a network-interconnection agreement and trialled 4G in Somalia.

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5. 2012Tri-Band 3G launched

   Hormuud introduced 3G mobile and internet connectivity.

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6. 2011EVC Plus mobile money introduced

   Hormuud began mobile-money transfers through EVC Plus.

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7. 2009Hormuud Salaam Foundation created

   The company established its charitable foundation.

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8. 2002Company established and GSM services launched

   Hormuud was established in Mogadishu with 16 telecommunications sites and launched fixed-line and GSM mobile services.

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A leading Somali telecommunications and digital-financial-services provider focused on broad network access, mobile money, affordable data and humanitarian connectivity.

• EVC PlusMobile money2011

  Hormuud’s mobile-money platform supports person-to-person and merchant transfers, airtime and data purchases, account management and humanitarian cash distribution. It was initially delivered through mobile interfaces comparable to SMS or USSD and later connected with app-based and banking functions. The Central Bank of Somalia issued Hormuud a mobile-money licence in 2021, formalising the service’s regulatory position.

• WAAFIDigital financial services application2021

  WAAFI is an integrated mobile application combining mobile money, communications, payments, online transactions, remittances and access to banking services. It extends EVC Plus beyond basic USSD transactions and supports QR-based business payments and links between wallets and bank accounts. The application was later used in a contactless-payments initiative involving Mastercard and local financial and telecom partners.

• Mobile voice and data servicesTelecommunications2002

  Hormuud provides fixed-line and GSM mobile services, prepaid and pay-as-you-go options, SMS, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G connectivity. Its network expansion has focused on connecting both urban and rural Somali communities, with later-generation mobile services intended to support household communication, business activity and digital financial access.

• Hormuud HotspotPublic Wi-Fi broadband2013

  Hormuud Hotspot provides Wi-Fi broadband in public locations such as hotels, educational institutions and other customer-access points. It was developed as part of the company’s expansion from voice services into shared and fixed internet connectivity.

• Hormuud MifiPortable broadband2014

  Hormuud Mifi is a portable wireless router service designed to connect multiple smartphones, tablets or computers to the company’s mobile broadband network. It provides a flexible alternative to fixed broadband for customers who need internet access while travelling or working away from a fixed connection.

• Enterprise InternetBusiness connectivity2014

  Enterprise Internet provides wireless broadband connectivity for organisations requiring simultaneous connections across multiple devices. The service has been aimed particularly at businesses, institutions and aid agencies operating in Somalia.

• Humanitarian portalHumanitarian cash transfers2019

  Hormuud’s humanitarian portal uses its mobile-money infrastructure to help non-governmental organisations deliver cash assistance to people in remote or difficult-to-reach areas. The system is intended to make payments more traceable and timely while reducing distribution risks and operating costs.

• 2024Humanitarian Connectivity Charter

  Somalia

  Hormuud joined the GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter, committing to connectivity support during crises and closer cooperation with humanitarian organisations.

  Outcome. The commitment formalised the company’s stated role in emergency connectivity and response.

  Source
• 2022Humanitarian mobile-money aid

  Somalia

  Hormuud promoted its humanitarian portal as a tool for delivering cash assistance during drought and other emergencies.

  Outcome. The portal received a Changing Lives award at the Africa Tech Festival for its humanitarian role.

  Source
• 2020COVID-19 health support

  Somalia

  Hormuud donated to Somalia’s healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic and used customer communication channels for public-health messaging.

  Outcome. The initiative supported health communication and healthcare relief during the pandemic.

  Source
• 2019Flood-response cash transfers

  Somalia

  Hormuud enabled commission-free bulk mobile-money transfers for NGOs responding to floods in Beledweyne, Baidoa, Jowhar and the Gedo region.

  Outcome. The arrangement helped humanitarian organisations send direct assistance to vulnerable recipients.

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• 20245G network rolloutGeneration change

  Hormuud had expanded from GSM and earlier mobile-data generations into nationwide 4G development.

  What changed. The company launched 5G in more than 30 Somali towns and cities and offered upgrades to existing 4G customers without an additional charge, according to reference material.

  Aftermath. The rollout marked Somalia’s entry into commercial 5G service through Hormuud’s network and increased the company’s emphasis on high-capacity mobile broadband.

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• 2024Contactless payment card initiativeProduct launch

  Hormuud sought to connect mobile money with formal banking and card-payment infrastructure.

  What changed. With Salaam Somali Bank, Mastercard, Telesom, Golis and Paymentology, Hormuud introduced tokenised digital and physical companion cards for WAAFI users.

  Aftermath. The initiative expanded WAAFI’s payment functionality and was described as a first contactless-payment offering of its kind in Somalia.

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• 2021Nationwide 4G expansion planStrategy

  Hormuud reported that a substantial share of its customers still relied on 2G, particularly in rural areas.

  What changed. The company announced a plan to pursue nationwide 4G coverage and expand rural network capacity.

  Aftermath. The plan established broader mobile broadband access as a central network and development priority.

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• 2021Launch of WAAFIProduct launch

  Existing mobile-money use in Somalia relied heavily on USSD and basic mobile interfaces.

  What changed. Hormuud introduced WAAFI as an integrated application for mobile money, communications, payments, remittances and banking access.

  Aftermath. WAAFI expanded the company’s digital-services proposition and later supported contactless payment products.

  Source

• 2024Hormuud brings 5G service to Somalia

  Hormuud launched 5G across more than 30 Somali towns and cities and upgraded existing 4G customers without an additional charge, according to reference material.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2024Hormuud participates in Somalia’s first contactless mobile payments rollout

  Working with Salaam Somali Bank, Mastercard, Telesom, Golis and Paymentology, Hormuud introduced tokenised digital and physical payment cards for WAAFI users.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2021Hormuud receives Somalia’s first mobile-money licence

  The Central Bank of Somalia granted Hormuud a mobile-money licence, giving EVC Plus formal regulatory recognition.

  Regulation
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• 2021WAAFI mobile application launches

  Hormuud launched an integrated application combining mobile money, communications, payments, banking access and remittance functions.

  Product launch
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• 2014Hormuud, NationLink and Somtel sign interconnection agreement

  The three operators agreed to interconnect their mobile networks through the Somali Telecommunication Company arrangement.

  Other
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• 2012Hormuud launches Tri-Band 3G

  The company introduced 3G mobile and internet services in Somalia.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2011EVC Plus mobile-money transfer service introduced

  Hormuud introduced a mobile-money service that enabled customers to transfer funds and pay for goods and services using mobile devices.

  Product launch
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• 2009Hormuud establishes the Hormuud Salaam Foundation

  The company created a charitable foundation to support community and social initiatives in Somalia.

  Other
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1. Hormuud Telecom
2. Hormuud Telecom official website