Somtel
Mobile, data and eDahab mobile money operator in Somalia.
Somtel at a glance
Somtel is a telecom website and one of the most visited sites in Somalia, currently ranked #5 in the country. It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Hargeisa, Somalia. Today Somtel is owned by Dahabshiil Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 0.7 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through telecom subscriptions, mobile money. Its closest rivals include hormuud.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 0.7 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 0.7 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 0.7 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 0.7 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct60%
- Organic search28%
- Paid search6%
- Referral4%
- Social2%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3428%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
The audience is concentrated in Somalia, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Somalia86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 0.2 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Somalia
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| somtel | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| mobile plans | Top 10 | High | — |
| bill payment | Top 10 | High | — |
| internet packages | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Somalia web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 80% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading telecom apps in Somalia
Company information
- Website
- somtel.com
- Sector
- Telecom
- Owner
- Dahabshiil Group
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Hargeisa, Somalia
- Employees
- 1,000+
- Ownership
- Dahabshiil Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- Somali, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Somtel operates a telecom operator focused on Somalia. Mobile, data and eDahab mobile money operator in Somalia. Revenue comes mainly from telecom subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Telecom subscriptions
- Mobile money
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International presence
- Primary market
- Somalia
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Somalia)
- #5 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading telecom site in Somalia
- Global rank
- Top 400,000 worldwide
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| hormuud.com | ≈ 0.4 million / month | #6 class competitor | — |
What is Somtel?
Somtel (somtel.com) is a telecom operator serving users in Somalia. Mobile, data and eDahab mobile money operator in Somalia. It ranks #5 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the telecom category.
Who owns Somtel?
The site is operated by Dahabshiil Group. The company was established in 2009 and is headquartered in Hargeisa, Somalia. It employs around 1,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Somtel at roughly 0.7 million visits per month, about 0 million per day. Around 80% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.4 pages per visit with an average session of 6 min.
How Somtel makes money
Revenue comes primarily from telecom subscriptions, alongside mobile money.
Competitors in Somalia
Its closest rivals include hormuud.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2009
Somtel is founded in Hargeisa, Somalia.
- Growth phase
Expands its telecom offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #5 among the most visited websites in Somalia.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Self-service billing and plan management
- Nationwide network coverage
- Bundled mobile, internet and TV offers
- Digital top-up and support channels
Cons
- Contract terms and early-exit fees
- Support queues at peak times
- Pricing complexity across bundles
- Coverage gaps in rural areas
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Somtel?
Somtel is operated by Dahabshiil Group. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Somtel headquartered?
Somtel is headquartered in Hargeisa, Somalia.
When was Somtel founded?
Somtel was founded in 2009.
How many employees does Somtel have?
Somtel employs approximately 1,000+ people.
What is Somtel's revenue?
Somtel does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from telecom subscriptions, mobile money.
Who are Somtel's competitors?
Main competitors in Somalia include hormuud.com.
How does Somtel make money?
Mainly telecom subscriptions, mobile money.
Is Somtel publicly traded?
No — Somtel is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Dahabshiil Group.
How many visitors does Somtel get?
Third-party estimates place Somtel at roughly 0.7 million visits per month, mostly from Somalia, with 80% mobile traffic.
Is Somtel safe?
Somtel is an established telecom site founded in 2009 and ranked #5 in Somalia; use the official domain somtel.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementssomtel.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageSomalia and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos