The telecommunication and associated services are adequate within Sudan. The use of mobile telephones far exceeds the use of land lines.
The liberalisation and privatisation of the telecommunication sector, the policies, the regulations and plans adopted by the Government of the Sudan in the early 1990s have created a capital–attracting, pro-competitive policy environment that have fostered the build–up of a modern, fully–digital infrastructure in the country and supported a climate suited to enhance Information Technology and Communication (ITC) development nationwide. The developments in the Sudanese Telecommunication sector along with the diversification and use of the ITC services including those of the Internet and its applications have made Sudan’s ICT among the most developed in Africa and the Middle East.
For more information on telecomms contacts, please see the following link: 4.11 Sudan Additional Services Contact List
Telephone Services |
|
Is there an existing landline telephone network? |
Yes , Sudatel |
Does it allow international calls? |
Yes |
On average, number and length of downtime periods |
120 minutes for 2012 |
Mobile phone providers |
ZAIN, Sudatel, MTN |
Estimated availability and
coverage |
Almost all cities and regions of Sudan |
Telecommunication Regulation
VHF and VHF frequencies licences are renewed on an annual basis; other licences required are obtained on a per shipment basis. Requests for licences are made through the Sudan National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC).
Regulations on Usage and Import |
||
|
Regulations in Place? |
Regulating Authority |
Satellite |
Yes |
Subject to and licensed by the Government of Sudan |
HF Radio |
Yes |
Subject to and licensed by the Government of Sudan |
UHF/VHF/HF radio: handheld, base and mobile |
Yes |
Subject to and licensed by the Government of Sudan |
UHF/VHF repeaters |
Yes |
Subject to and licensed by the Government of Sudan |
GPS |
Yes |
Subject to and licensed by the Government of Sudan |
VSAT |
Yes |
Subject to and licensed by the Government of Sudan |
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required GPS, VSAT HF and VHF are licenced within Sudan. Frequency Licenses Required VSAT, C band, 26 HF and 18 VHF channels are licensed through the Government of Sudan. Licensing procedures VHF and VHF frequencies licences are renewed on an annual basis; other licences required are obtained on a per shipment basis. Requests for licences are made through the Sudan National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems. |
Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems
Existing UN Telecommunication Systems |
||||||
Organizations |
UNDP-UNDSS |
WFP-UNICEF |
WHO-UNHABITAT |
HCR-FAO-IOM-UNIC |
WB-ILO-UNFEM- UNEP |
UNAMID- UNISFA |
VHF frequencies |
16 channels |
16 channels |
16 channels |
16 channels |
16 channels |
16 channels |
HF frequencies |
27 Channels |
27 Channels |
27 Channels |
27 Channels |
27 Channels |
27 Channels |
Repeaters (Locations) |
1 VHF Channel |
1 VHF channel |
1 VHF channel |
1 VHF Channel |
1 VHF Channel |
1 VHF Channel |
VSAT |
4 VSAT |
WFP-17 FoodSat, UNICEF 6 VSAT |
4 VSAT |
12 VSAT |
0 VSAT |
UNAMID 20, UNISFA 4 |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
The Internet in Sudan started in 1998 as a joint venture between Sudan Telecommunications Company (SUDATEL) and the Sudan Corporation of Broadcasting and Television as a dial-up service. A private company was licensed to provide a broadband wireless service beside the existing one. As from 1998 internet service was introduced by 2.5G technology through the licensed mobile service operators. In 2007 the internet service began to be provided by the 3G technologies (CDMA-EVxDO, UMTS) which facilitated a vast and dense ubiquity all over the country. That was sustained by the higher capacities made available from the submarine optic cables connected to global systems (FLAG).
The provision of the internet service by the licensed public service operators with high speed and assorted packages led the working ISPs to shrink considerably, in addition to the decline of the telephone fixed service and the increase of the mobile. This matter is being studied intensively by the NTC to remedy the situation particularly in the Telecom Act Update.
Internet Service Providers |
||
Are there ISPs available? |
Yes , ZAIN, SUDATEL , MTN and CANAR |
|
Private or Government |
All are Private except Sudatel is Government |
|
Dial-up only? |
No |
|
Approximate Rates |
Dial-up: |
|
Broadband: 15 MB |
|
|
Max leasable ‘dedicated’ bandwidth |
50 MB |
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.
Company |
Number of agent outlets by area |
Subscribers |
Network strength by area |
Contracted for humanitarian or government cash transfer programmes? |
Services offered (e.g. merchant payment, bulk disbursement, receive & make payment) |
Technology |
ZAIN |
Khartoum 100 Madani 50 Gedaref 20 Fasher 2 Nyala 2 Geneina 2 Kosti 2 Kassala 2 |
12,000,000+ |
90% |
No |
No |
3.5G (GSM and WCDMA)+ 4G |
MTN |
Khartoum 102 Madani 20 Fasher 2 Nyala 2 Geneina 2 Kosti 1 Kassala 1 |
1,788,237 |
85% |
No |
No |
3G+ (GSM) |
Sudani |
Khartoum 120 Madani 25 Fasher 3 Nyala 3 Geneina 3 Kosti 1 Kassala 1 |
3,000,000 |
80 % |
No |
No |
3.75G (CDMA) |