Somalia Pushes Digital Sustainability at Riyadh Telecom Forum

GOOBJOOG NEWS | RIYADH: The National Communications Authority (NCA) has urged global regulators to embed sustainability in digital policies as its delegation joined the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

NCA Director General Mustafa Yasin Sheikh told a high-level panel on “Building a Sustainable Digital Future” that Somalia’s priorities include protecting privacy in public-interest data, ensuring networks remain operational during crises, and cutting connectivity costs to widen access.

He cited Somalia’s use of anonymized mobile data to support flood response and called for stricter energy standards for data centers, renewable and backup power at critical sites, safe recycling of devices, and nationwide emergency alert readiness.

To track progress, Mustafa proposed a national “sustainability scorecard” measuring renewable energy use, backup power capacity, emissions per unit of data, and safe e-waste disposal.

“Somalia’s priority is to move from pilots to performance — enabling trusted data, embedding sustainability into rules, and measuring what matters,” he said.

The three-day forum brought together regulators from across the world to discuss how digital governance can strengthen climate resilience and expand inclusive access to technology. Somalia’s participation highlights its growing role in global regulatory dialogue and its efforts to build a resilient and affordable digital sector.