Somali Internet access provider (IAP) Somalia Internet was disconnected from Emix, the Emirates Internet Exchange in Dubai, last week, apparently leaving the country without international Internet connectivity.
Emix has confirmed that it disconnected the company after the United Arab Emirates (UAM) central bank issued a notice that all of Somalia Internet`s assets were to be frozen.
Emix marketing manager Ahmed Hareb says the notice was published last week, but that the exchange first had to determine if leased-lines were considered assets. The connection was then terminated on Thursday.
The notice was apparently published after the US listed the company as one of those with suspected links to al-Qaeda, the network led by terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden, in a list it published earlier this month. The BBC reports that the company has denied any terrorist links and that Somalia has been left without Internet access.
Somali Internet was formed in August 2000 by three telecommunications providers, Barakat, Astel and Nationlink. Barakat has also been accused of terrorist links and has also denied the allegations.
Somali Internet could not be reached for comment.
According to reports, Barakat`s international gateway has also been disconnected but other operators are continuing to provide voice services.
The International Telecommunications Union estimates that a total of 15 000 telephone lines serve Somalia`s population of just under 10 million, after most of the war-torn country`s infrastructure was destroyed.
Emix says the country could be reconnected to its exchange within 45 days or less should it receive a request to do so.
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