Mogadishu, Somalia — In a landmark development for Somalia’s media and communications sector, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has announced the successful establishment of a Media Satellite Teleport — the first of its kind in the country in over three decades.
The state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionize the country’s broadcast infrastructure, significantly enhancing the quality, reliability, and global reach of content produced by Somali National Television (SNTV) and other state-owned media outlets.
The teleport — a ground-based satellite communications hub — will allow SNTV to transmit high-definition content directly to satellites, bypassing third-party uplink providers and reducing transmission costs. It will also enable live coverage of national events, real-time news updates, and broader distribution of Somali programming to international audiences, especially the diaspora.
“This is a historic moment for Somalia’s media sector. The teleport will ensure stronger signal delivery, greater content independence, and the modernization of national media capabilities,” read a press release from the ministry.
The project was implemented with the support of regional technical partners and Somali engineers, and includes advanced infrastructure such as satellite uplink/downlink systems, redundant power supplies, and secure data networks. It is located within a secure government media complex in Mogadishu.
Somalia has lacked an independent satellite broadcasting facility since the collapse of the central government in 1991. For years, national broadcasters relied on costly and unreliable external providers for satellite transmission, which often led to disruptions in service and limited reach.
The new teleport is expected to serve not only SNTV but also Radio Mogadishu and other government media institutions. It represents a major leap forward in Somalia’s efforts to rebuild national media infrastructure, support digital transformation, and strengthen public communication.
The ministry noted that the next phase will involve training personnel to operate the teleport and expanding its capacity to support educational, cultural, and emergency communications content nationwide.