Did you know that Somalia has one of the most efficient telephone systems on Africa?

[NNN0LHI]

Oder a phone to be installed on Monday and by Wednesday that baby will be hooked up and operating.

Main article: Communications in Somalia


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy_in_Somalia

Somalia has some of the best telecommunications in Africa, with a handful of companies ready to wire home or office and provide crystal-clear service, including international long distance, for about $10 a month." Installation time for a land-line is just three days, while in the neighboring Kenya waiting lists are many years long. In other African countries public monopolies and licensing restrictions raise prices and hamper the spread of telecommunications. Abdullahi Mohammed Hussein of Telecom Somalia stated that "the government post and telecoms company used to have a monopoly but after the regime was toppled, we were free to set up our own business", The World Bank reported in 2007 that only about 1.5% of the population had a telephone resulting in the emergence of ten fiercely competitive telephone companies. According to the CIA World Factbook, private telephone companies "offer service in most major cities" via wireless technology, charging "the lowest international rates on the continent", while The New York Times has noted the private provision of mail services. The Economist cited the telephone industry in anarchic Somalia as "a vivid illustration of the way in which governments…can often be more of a hindrance than a help."

[whoneedstickets]

1. Phone companies are relics...

...of the era when telephone systems required massive infrastructural investment (lines, poles over 1000's of miles). If we still needed lines and poles, no one would have service in Somalia.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Well, that shoots holes in my comeback to freepers

When one of them complains about big government or taxes, I mention that Somalia would be like paradise for them. A few times, I've added something to the effect, 'don't forget to write or call home...if they even HAVE mail or phone service, that is.'

Damn! Perfectly good zinger shot to hell!

[Arctic Dave]

3. Another reason for quickly installing phone service in these countries is for

evesdropping. I heard the other day that one of the first thing the Taliban blows up is cell phone repeaters so they can't be tracked via cell phone.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Other than phone service, there aren't a whole lot of advantages to living in Somalia

In fact, the business leaders actually WANTED a stronger government because there was no one to administer a legal system.

[anonymous171]

5. What about access to clean water? Education? nt