Editing Telecommunications in Sudan

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
'''Telecommunications in Sudan''' includes fixed and mobile telephones, the Internet, radio, and television. Approximately 12 million out of 45 million people in Sudan use the Internet, mainly on smartphones and [[Mobile computing|mobile computers]].<ref name="aawsat.com">{{Cite web|url=https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1847641/sudan-telecommunication-firms-raise-internet-prices|title=Sudan Telecommunication Firms Raise Internet Prices|website=Asharq AL-awsat|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref>

==Pre-privatization era (up to 1994)==

Sudan had telecommunication services as early as 1897. All of the organizations established to deliver telecommunications services were government-owned. They were, for all practical purposes, entities with little or no operational and financial autonomy and little control over their own destiny. Despite many development plans and efforts, the state of telecommunication sector in the country remained extremely poor through 1994. At that time, Sudan had one of the lowest penetration rates (0.23%) even by regional standards.{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}

==Privatization era (1994 and beyond)==

The Three-Year Economic Salvation Programme (1990–1993), adopted by the Government of Sudan, emphasized the role of telecommunications in the socio-economic development process and called for the removal of the monopolistic environment in the sector and for the involvement of the private sector—whether local or foreign—in the telecommunication sector as well as in other sectors to overcome the persistent shortfalls in investment and performance. As an outcome of this programme, the structure of the telecommunication sector in the country at present is as follows:{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}
:a)  The Ministry (Ministry of Information & Communications): in charge of policies and legislation.
:b)  The Regulator (National Telecom Corporation, NTC): in charge of regulatory functions.
:c)  The licensed operators and service providers: in charge of the operation of licensed networks and of the provision of services.

The liberalization and privatization of the telecommunication sector, the policies, the regulations and plans adopted by the Government of the [[Sudan]] 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 furnished a climate suited to enhance [[Information and communications technology]] (ITC) development nationwide. The transformation and achievements witnessed in the Sudanese Telecommunication sector coupled with the growing and diversifying use of the ITC services including those of the Internet and its applications have made Sudan to be widely held among the most developed in [[Africa]], if not in the [[Middle East]]. But the market is still considered to be virgin and huge investment opportunities exist and shall explode with the full realization of peace and stability throughout the country.<ref>Source: National Telecom Corp. NTC, the ICT regulator.</ref>

;Providers {{citation needed |date=January 2014}}

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  Operator/service provider
!  Date of licence	
!  Technology
!  Network Capacity
!  Country wide Coverage
!  Subscribers
|-
| [[Zain Sudan]]
| 14 August 1996
| 3.5G (GSM and WCDMA)+ 4G (LTE)
| Unknown
| 120 locations
| 12,000,000+
|-
| [[MTN Sudan]]
| 25 October 2003
| 3G+ (GSM) 4G (LTE)
| 1,100,000
| 35 locations
| 1,788,237
|-
| [[Sudani One]]
| 2 February 2006
| 3.75G (CDMA) 4G (LTE)
| 4,000,000
| 145 locations
| 3,000,000
|-
| Canar Telecommunications
| April 2005
| 3G (CDMA) 
| Unknown
| unknown
| unknown
|}

==Evolution of the telecommunication sector (1994 to September 2006)==

;Fixed Services	{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}

:{| style="border-spacing:10px;"
|-
| SUDATEL               	|| 19 April 1993   || TDM/MPLS     ||align=right | 1,493,674 ||align=right | 200 locations ||align=right | 411,000
|-
| CANAR (Limited Mobility)	|| 11 October 2004 || IP-MPLS/CDMA ||align=right | 250,000   ||align=right | 5 locations ||align=right | 104,720
|}

;Growth of fixed and mobile communications {{citation needed |date=January 2014}}

:{| style="border-spacing:10px;"
|-
!&nbsp;||&nbsp;        	||align=right | 1994 	||align=right | 2000	||align=right | 2004	||align=right | 2005	||align=right | 2006
|-
| Fixed  || Capacity x 1000	||align=right |  150 	||align=right |  416	||align=right | 1500	||align=right | 1500	||align=right | 1500
|-
|&nbsp;|| Subscribers x 1000	||align=right |   64   	||align=right  |  386	||align=right | 1929	||align=right |  680	||align=right |  515
|-
| Mobile || Capacity x 1000	||align=right | — ||align=right |   20	||align=right | 1250	||align=right | 2000	||align=right | 4800
|-
|&nbsp;|| Subscribers x 1000	||align=right | — ||align=right |   1	||align=right | 1050	||align=right | 1866	||align=right | 3370
|}

==Telephones==
{{See also |Telephone numbers in Sudan}}

* [[Calling code]]: +249<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sudan/ "Communications: Sudan"], ''World Factbook'', U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 4 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.</ref>
* [[List of international call prefixes|International call prefix]]: 00<ref>[http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164C-2011-PDF-E.pdf ''Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010))''], Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.</ref>
* Main lines: 425,000 lines in use, 101st in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>
* Mobile cellular: 27.7 million, 38th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>
* Domestic: well-equipped system by regional standards; [[cellular communication]]s started in 1996 and have expanded substantially with wide coverage of most major cities, [[microwave radio relay]], cable, fiber optic, [[radio telephone]] communications, [[tropospheric scatter]], and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations (2010).<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>
* [[List of international submarine communications cables|Communications cables]]: [[EASSy]] and [[Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe|FLAG]] / [[FALCON (cable system)|FALCON]] [[fiber-optic]] [[Submarine communications cable|submarine cable]] systems (2010).<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>
* [[Communications satellite|Satellite earth stations]]: 1 [[Intelsat]] ([[Atlantic Ocean]]), 1 [[Arabsat]] (2010).<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>

==Internet==
As of 2011, internet access was widely available in urban areas, but limited by lack of infrastructure in rural areas.<ref name="loc2015">{{citation-attribution|1={{Cite encyclopedia |last=Shinn |first=David H. |title=Radio, Television, and Internet |editor-last=Berry |editor1-first=LaVerle |url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/pdf/CS_Sudan.pdf |encyclopedia=Sudan: a country study |date=2015 |publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|isbn=978-0-8444-0750-0|edition=5th|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=275}}}} Though published in 2015, this work covers events in the whole of Sudan (including present-day South Sudan) until the 2011 secession of South Sudan.</ref>

* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 12 million users, 46th in the world; 21.0% of the population, 142nd in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name=ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet>[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 18,472 subscriptions, 131st in the world; 0.1% of population, 172nd in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc/><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: 5.6 million subscriptions, 31st in the world; 16.4% of the population, 78th in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 99, 211th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>
* [[IPv4]]: 283,904 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 6.3 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>IPv4 address figures include Sudan and [[South Sudan]].</ref><ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], ''[[The World Factbook]]'', [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>
* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.sd]]<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/>

===Internet censorship and surveillance===

Sudan was listed as engaged in substantial Internet filtering in the social and Internet tools areas, in selective filtering in the political area, and as no evidence of filtering in conflict/security area by the [[OpenNet Initiative]] in August 2009. Sudan openly acknowledges filtering content that transgresses public morality and ethics or threatens order. The state's regulatory authority established a special unit to monitor and implement filtration; this primarily targets pornography and, to a lesser extent, gay and lesbian content, dating sites, provocative attire, and many anonymizer and proxy Web sites.<ref>[http://opennet.net/research/profiles/sudan "ONI Country Profile: Sudan"], OpenNet Initiative, 7 August 2009</ref>

The government monitors Internet communications, and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) reads [[e-mail]] messages between private citizens. The National Telecommunications Corporation blocks some Web sites and most proxy servers deemed offensive to public morality. While there generally are no restrictions on access to news and information Web sites, authorities regularly block access to [[YouTube]]. During the June and July 2012 antigovernment demonstrations, authorities blocked access to several popular online discussion forums. Security agencies also arrested several [[bloggers]] during this period, and commentators speculated the government used [[social media]] to track and arrest protesters.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Sudan-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204171 "Sudan"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 2 April 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.</ref>

The interim national constitution provides for [[freedom of thought]], [[freedom of expression|expression]], and of [[freedom of the press|the press]] “as regulated by law”; however, the government severely restricts these rights. Individuals who criticize the government publicly or privately are subject to reprisal, including arrest. Journalists are subjected to arrest, harassment, intimidation, and violence due to their reporting. The government, including NISS, practices direct prepublication [[censorship]] of all forms of media. Journalists also practice [[self-censorship]]. NISS resorts to legal action against journalists, bringing [[libel]] lawsuits for stories critical of the government and security services. The Supreme Court in December 2011 overturned a lower court decision against several of the accused journalists, but NISS petitioned for a review of the higher court's decision. The Supreme Court rejected the NISS appeal in September 2012, but the security service continued to pursue defamation cases against several other journalists. The interim national constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, but the government routinely violates these rights. Emergency laws in Darfur and Blue Nile states legalize interference in privacy, family, home, and correspondence. Security forces frequently conduct searches without warrants and target persons suspected of political crimes. The government monitors private communication and movement of individuals without due legal process.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Sudan-2012/>

In 2019, Internet services were blocked in Sudan from June 3 to July 7.<ref name="aawsat.com"/>

==Radio and television==
{{Main |Television in Sudan}}
* [[Radio broadcasting|Radio]]: directly controlled by the Sudanese Government (2007);<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/> a private radio station is in operation (2007);<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/> 22 AM and 1 shortwave (HF) broadcast stations.{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}
* [[Receiver (radio)|Radio sets]]: 13.7 million.{{update after|2014|1|5}}
* [[Television broadcasting|TV]]: directly controlled by the Sudanese Government (2007);<ref name=CIAWFB-Sudan-2013/> 95 broadcast and relay stations.{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}
* [[Television set|TV sets]]: 6.7 million.{{update after|2014|1|5}}

Radio and television broadcasting are operated by the government. Sudan Television operates three stations located in [[Omdurman]], [[Al Jazirah (state)|Al Jazirah]], and [[Atbarah]]. The major radio station of the Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation is in Omdurman, with a regional station in [[Juba, Sudan|Juba]] for the south.<ref name=":0">The Legal Framework for Freedom of Expression in Sudan, Africa Country Reports, Article 19, January 2005

https://web.archive.org/web/20240916131134/https://www.article19.org/data/files/pdfs/publications/sudan-legal-framework-for-foe.pdf</ref> Some foreign shortwave radio broadcasts are available, and a private FM radio station continues to operate. The government restricts UN radio. In addition to domestic and satellite television services, there is a private cable network that directly rebroadcasts uncensored foreign news and other programs.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Sudan-2012/>

The government, including the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), continues to practice direct prepublication censorship of all forms of media. TV has a permanent military censor. The government directly controls radio and television and requires that both reflect government policies.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Sudan-2012/> Following the [[1989 Sudanese coup d'état|1989 coup]], the [[Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation]] (RCC-NS) dismissed several broadcasters from Sudan Television because their loyalty to the new government and its policies was considered suspect.<ref name=":0" />

In opposition to the official broadcast network, the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army]] operated its own clandestine radio station, Radio SPLA, from secret transmitters within the country and facilities in [[Ethiopia]]. Radio SPLA broadcasts were in Arabic, English, and various languages of the south. In 1990, the National Democratic Alliance began broadcasts on Radio SPLA's frequencies.{{citation needed |date=January 2014}}

Another clandestine radio station, [[Radio Dabanga]], began broadcasting in December 2008 using shortwave transmitters of [[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]. Government-run Radio Omdurman ran jamming signals to attempt to interfere with reception during Radio Dabanga's broadcast times, but these jamming efforts were ineffective, in part because Radio Dabanga used two shortwave frequencies.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200912040735.html "Sudan: Darfur Radio Show Launched - Programme Will Overcome Sudanese Censorship to Deliver News On War Crimes Justice Developments"], Institute for War & Peace Reporting, AllAfrica, 29 November 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2014.</ref>

==See also==

* [[Media of Sudan]], includes information on radio, television, and newspapers.
* [[Sudan TV]], Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation (SNBC), government-owned and operated Arabic language national television network.
* [[Sudatel]], a telecommunications and Internet service provider, more than 60% owned by the Sudanese government with the remainder owned by private interests.

==References==
* {{CIA World Factbook |year=2013}}
* {{US DOS |year=2012}}
{{reflist |32em}}

==External links==
* [http://isoc.sd/sis/index.php Sudan Internet Society {{in lang|ar}}].
* [http://www.sudatel.sd/ar/sudatel/ Sudatel {{in lang|ar}}], [http://www.sudatel.sd/en/Sudatel/ {{in lang|en}}].
* [http://www.sudantv.net/ Sudan TV {{in lang|ar}}]
*[http://www.sd.zain.com/ Zain Sudan {{in lang|en}}]

{{Clear}}
{{Africa topic|Telecommunications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Internet censorship by country}}
{{Sudan topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Telecommunications In Sudan}}
[[Category:Telecommunications in Sudan| ]]