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NCA Marks Universal Acceptance Day to Advance Digital Inclusion

Storyline:National News, Science & Tech

Mogadishu, Somalia – 17 May 2025 – The National Communications Authority (NCA) today convened a full-day training and adoption workshop in Mogadishu to celebrate Universal Acceptance (UA) Day 2025 under the theme “Empowering Digital Inclusion.” The gathering united government leaders, development partners, academia, telecom operators, internet service providers, technology firms and civil society representatives to tackle barriers preventing equal access to online resources.

In his opening address, Mr Ahmed Ali Salad, Deputy Director of the NCA, underscored UA’s critical role in Somalia’s digital transformation. “Universal Acceptance ensures that every valid domain name and email address—no matter the script, language or length—is correctly recognized by all internet systems,” he said. “This principle is essential for creating a more inclusive, reliable online environment across our country.”

Organized by the Somali Network Information Centre (SONIC)—the NCA’s technical arm—and supported by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the day featured interactive sessions on:

  • Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs): Best practices for registering and deploying domains in local scripts

  • Email Address Internationalization (EAI): Ensuring email systems accept addresses in diverse languages

  • Developer Workshops: Hands-on coding exercises to build UA-compliant websites and applications

Participants left equipped with practical tools and guidelines to implement UA standards within their organizations. By adopting these practices, attendees will help bridge digital divides and ensure every Somalilander can fully participate in today’s internet economy.

The NCA plans to extend this initiative with follow-up regional workshops later this year, reinforcing Somalia’s commitment to universal, barrier-free connectivity.