Fibre Optic Internet service has been restored in Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia, official announced.

Post, Communications and Technology minister Abdi Anshur Hassan made the announcement in his office in Mogadishu on Monday.

Somalia has gone without Internet services for 22 days, after a ship damaged the underwater cable.

Mr Hassan said the line had been repaired and it was now functioning.

A backup

He said the country needed a backup system to mitigate similar damages in future.

“I want the companies involved in the Internet provision to provide back up to shield against future mishaps.

“I want the communication companies to collaborate to ensure that the ships sailing to the port of Mogadishu do not damage the fibre optic line feeding the country with valuable Internet,” he added.

All stakeholders

The minister said on July 9 that Somalia was incurring $10 million loss daily due to the Internet service disruption.

Mr Hassan indicated that business opportunities existed for companies in Somalia's ever growing communication sector.

“There are business opportunity, folks,” he said.

“The ministry of post, communications and technology is going to draft, together with all stakeholders, a master plan to streamline the use of Internet in Somalia.”