Our Top 9 Milestone Achievements Of The Past 20 Years

Founded in 2002 and built by Somalis for Somalis, Hormuud Telecom has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the leading purpose-driven companies in the Horn of Africa.
As Hormuud Telecom commemorates its 20th anniversary, we take a look back at some of the company’s most significant accomplishments; the following are the top Nine of the company’s greatest achievements:

1. Over 12,000 dedicated shareholders
   Hormuud Telecom was founded by just two hundred and eighty-three shareholders who come together and laid down a vision to transform the lives of their communities and to connect Somalis worldwide through a variety of products and services.
   Over the course of 20 years, Hormuud Telecom became the largest company in Somalia with the highest number of shareholders from 283 to 12,000, owned entirely by Somali businessmen.

1. Strengthening Somalia’s economy through the creation of new jobs
   There are many factors that need to be in place for a country to succeed economically. One of those factors is employment, throughout the past 20 years; Hormuud Telecom has created thousands of jobs for Somalis in a country characterized by severe unemployment and a lack of conducive working conditions. This 20 years old company employs over 35,000 Somalis, making it the largest employer in Somalia.
   Hormuud Telecom recognizes that its employees are its most valuable asset, so it offers a wide range of employee benefit and welfare programs designed to ensure the safety and well-being of employees. Such as decent, livable salaries that are commission-based. Healthcare coverage, 120 days of paid maternity leave, four weeks of paid annual leave. Yearly bonuses based on individual and company performance etc.
   With the existence of a dire unemployment situation in Somalia, Hormuud telecom is helping thousands of people find satisfying livelihoods. Tens of thousands of agents sell the company’s services and products to end users.
2. Providing reliable services to over millions of people and installing over 800 towers
   Hormuud Telcom is renowned throughout the southern and central parts of Somalia as the leading provider of reliable and timely services to more than four million people on a regular basis and is also known for its introduction of the latest technologies to those communities.
   During the past two decades, Hormuud Telecom has managed to deliver a world-class telecommunications service to every place with 50 households in the south and central parts of Somalia, and has installed more than 800 towers or antennas, making it the country’s largest network.
3. The first company in the country to provide internet services
   In 2009 Hormuud Telecom introduced the country’s first type of mobile phone internet called GPRS and it continues to bring the latest innovations to the country ever since. During the past few decades, Hormuud Telecom has been a pioneer in providing the latest Internet services throughout the country and has consistently provided the most advanced technology used by the most developed countries in the world.
   According to a survey conducted in 2020 by the British technology research firm Cable, Somalia overtook many African countries with regard to internet accessibility despite the political and security challenges, and is now considered as one of the countries in the world with affordable internet, ranking number one in Africa, and seventh worldwide in 2020.

1. Somalia’s most popular mobile money platform
   The introduction of EVC Plus in 2011 is yet another landmark achievement for Hormuud telecom and a reason for you to celebrate our 20th anniversary with us. With EVC Plus is a unique option to send and receive mobile money, and it is the country’s most popular mobile money wallet.
   Over 67% of Somalis, especially the most vulnerable communities, use mobile money technology as the sole payment system. And it has had a positive impact on small-scale businesses in the country, mainly run by female vendors and entrepreneurs, sparing them much-needed time and money.
   EVC Plus differs from many other mobile money platforms in Africa by being completely free at the point of use, and it has several key features such as a person-to-person money transfer, a person-to-merchant/business money transfer, airtime/data top-up, account management, and many more.
   A year after Hormuud telecom was awarded a license by the National Communications Authority (NCA), Hormuud’s EVCPLUS was granted a license by the Somali Central Bank in 2021. This licensing was granted on the basis that Hormuud’s EVCPLUS adhered to the Somali Central Bank’s financial regulations.
2. The country’s first fiber optic link
   In 2013, Hormuud Telecom signed an agreement with the African fiber optic company Liquid Telecom, to connect to the company’s 17,000 km (10,500 mile) network of terrestrial cables crossing 11 African countries.
   Bringing the fiber optic internet cables to Somalia was another landmark achievement for Hormuud Telecom, which resulted in Somalia having the cheapest internet in Africa.
3. Over 500 customer service sites
   Over the past 20 years, Hormuud Telecom has established hundreds of customer service centers, staffed by highly trained employees that are dedicated to providing excellent service to customersThe company began with only 16 customer service sites to meet the communication needs of the Somali population. However, after over 2 decades of expansion, Hormuud telecom now has more than 500 customer service centers, which people can get all the company’s various services and products.

1. First Somali corporate entity to achieve (ISO) certification
   As a result of A hard-fought eight-year effort, Hormuud Telecom received the International Organization for Standardization certification in 2020, becoming Somalia’s first private company to be (ISO) certified. This recognition allows the company to serve its customers globally and conduct business with international companies.
   Hormuud Telecom has attained a globally recognized mobile money certification from trade body the GSMA, an achievement that paves the way for the operator to contribute to Somalia’s stability and focus on key growth areas.
2. Mobile money certification from the GSMA
   During March 2022, Hormuud Telecom received a prestigious Mobile Money Certification from the global mobile network operators’ industry body (GSMA) for its EVC Plus mobile money platform, which currently serves 8.8 million active subscribers, making Hormuud the first Somali company to receive the GLOMO Award.
   A total of 300 criteria were assessed during Hormuud’s accreditation process, including safeguarding of funds, fraud prevention, system security, and data privacy.
   This award recognizes Hormuud Telecom’s company social responsibility efforts as it supports the needs of emergency humanitarian situations in Somalia through mobile innovation.
   In conclusion, Hormuud Telecom has been a major contributor to the country’s economic development over the past two decades by investing in key sectors, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and creating employment opportunities throughout the country. Furthermore, Hormuud Telecom guarantees that, in the next twenty years, it will continue to offer superior products and services to its customers and hopes to generate new ideas and opportunities for the Somali people.