Statement issued by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology – Republic of Yemen
On the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Sunday, May 17, 2026
The Republic of Yemen joins the world in celebrating World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which falls on May 17th of each year. This year's theme is "Telecommunications: The Lifelines of the Digital World," highlighting the growing role of digital technologies in our lives, exploring digital systems that support daily life, and strengthening digital lifelines for a more interconnected and resilient world that increasingly relies on reliable and continuous communication.
The Republic of Yemen’s participation in the fifty-seventh anniversary of the occasion comes despite the political, economic, social and other circumstances it is going through as a result of the ongoing aggression and blockade siege against the country, which has targeted various aspects of life and its components for more than eleven years, during which the countries of aggression against Yemen destroyed more than 35% of the infrastructure of the communications and information technology sector, including submarine cables, data systems, sites and telecommunications networks that are the lifeline of daily life, targeting the cutting off of lifelines in Yemen, with more than (2764) air raids.
We at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology affirm that the suffering of the Yemeni telecommunications and information technology sector continues to this day due to the difficult circumstances resulting from the aggression and blockade for more than eleven years, during which the aggressor countries deliberately destroyed the telecommunications and information technology infrastructure by directly targeting telecommunications facilities and stations spread throughout the country, in addition to continuing the blockade on the entry of telecommunications equipment used for peaceful purposes, in order to cut off the digital lifeline between Yemen and the world, and to delay Yemen and deprive it of keeping pace with the rapid developments in the telecommunications sector.
We also affirm that, despite the exceptional circumstances and great challenges facing our country, we are working with exceptional efforts and a strong national will, with all available resources, to rebuild and develop the Yemeni telecommunications and information technology sector, which is considered the lifeline of the Yemeni citizen and the primary means of communication.
We emphasize that the achievements made by the Yemeni telecommunications sector during recent years, despite the large costs of restarting it due to the ongoing aggression and blockade against the country, have enabled the telecommunications sector to continue providing services to all citizens in various regions of the Republic without exception, and have worked to ensure the flow of the digital lifeline in Yemen, by improving the speed levels of fixed and mobile internet services, in terms of speed, reliability and quality, through the rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure, the spread of 4G networks, network connectivity services, national cloud computing technologies, and the digital empowerment of society, in order to promote digital culture with the aim of moving towards the digital transformation of businesses in the country.
On this occasion, the Yemeni Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology reiterates its repeated demands, as expressed in official statements published by the Ministry in the past, regarding the necessity for the aggressor states to respect the safety and security of submarine cables, provide the necessary facilities for their repair and maintenance, and facilitate the implementation of cable and branch line projects, given that the Republic of Yemen has been a key and active partner in this for decades. Furthermore, the infrastructure and related services must be kept separate from political conflicts.
We reiterate our demands for the following:
First: To address the suffering of the Yemeni people as a just humanitarian issue first and foremost, and to work diligently to halt all military operations and violations against the telecommunications and internet infrastructure and its civilian facilities. This includes ending the blockade imposed on civilian telecommunications equipment, supplies, and systems, and facilitating their entry into Yemen. This will contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people and strengthening their right to reliable and secure communication, given that communications are the lifeblood of daily life.
Second: To work urgently to lift the blockade and allow access for the technical equipment and spare parts necessary to restore the operation of damaged telecommunications sites and towers. This will enable the restoration of services to residents of affected areas and cities, ensuring secure communication and bridging the digital divide between the Republic of Yemen and the rest of the world.
Third: Immediate intervention and pressure on the aggressor states to allow the installation of the SMW5 submarine cable branch and landing station in Hodeidah Governorate, owned by Yemen Telecom, and to ensure its operation.
Fourth: Compelling the aggression coalition to neutralize telecommunications services and civilian infrastructure, ensuring the protection of telecommunications workers, and countering attempts to fragment and destroy telecommunications institutions and companies in Yemen.
Fifth: We reiterate our continued commitment to holding the aggressor states legally and morally responsible for their military and economic crimes against Yemen's telecommunications infrastructure, and the resulting catastrophic consequences that have affected all aspects of life in Yemen.
Sixth: We renew our call to the international community, the International Telecommunication Union, and UN, human rights, and humanitarian organizations to fulfill their humanitarian and moral obligations regarding the damage inflicted on Yemen's telecommunications and information technology infrastructure for over eleven years. This is crucial to ensure access to and operation of telecommunications services for citizens, to bridge the digital divide, and to establish reliable and continuous connectivity that strengthens the digital lifeline between Yemen and the world. We must guarantee uninterrupted communication across all regions of Yemen, so that Yemenis are not left behind in the digital age, especially given the tragic circumstances the country is facing.
Issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology – Republic of Yemen
Sana'a – Sunday – May 17, 2026