Hormuud Telecom Plans Solar Data Centers for AI Economy

On 9 December 2024, Mustaqbal Media reported that Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc., described as the country's leading telecommunications provider, announced plans to expand solar-powered green data centers to support growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure locally and globally.

According to the report, CEO Ahmed Mohamud Yusuf stated that the company is leveraging Somalia’s abundant sunlight to create sustainable data solutions. “Somalia is one of the sunniest countries in the world, and many of our data centers already run on solar power during the day,” Yusuf was quoted as saying.

The article states that Hormuud currently operates 11 data centers with a combined capacity of 10 megawatt-hours, with 95% of their energy coming from solar power. The report does not clarify whether this figure refers to storage capacity or energy throughput, and no date is given for the statistic.

Mustaqbal Media reported that the expansion plans will add more capacity “driven by the evolving needs of the AI economy,” but the article does not specify quantity, cost, location, or timeline for the added capacity. No information is provided on whether any of the announced plans have progressed to construction, funding, or tender stage since the announcement.

The report also covered company milestones: Hormuud was founded 22 years ago during Somalia’s recovery from civil unrest, has co-financed two of the four submarine cables connecting Somalia to the global internet, and is rolling out 5G technology with a target of 70% population coverage within the next year. Hormuud serves over 4 million customers, representing about 20% of Somalia’s population, and is owned by 13,000 shareholders, according to Mustaqbal Media.

Mustaqbal Media noted that Hormuud operates in a competitive market alongside Somtel, Telesom, and Golis Telecom Somalia. The report also stated that Hormuud facilitated direct distribution of humanitarian aid over the last five years, citing a figure of £800 million ($1 billion), though the two amounts are not reconciled and the basis for conversion is not stated.