Sudan - SMS traffic growth of 240% to mid-2013 shows consumer preference for mobile telecoms

Following a referendum, in mid-2011 oil-rich South Sudan became the world’s youngest independent state. Having been beyond the central government’s control and deprived of development, it is establishing its own independent telecommunications sector, creating new opportunities for service providers and equipment suppliers.

Three quarters of the population are in the North where mobile market penetration is far higher. The North has a large, relatively well-equipped telecommunications system by regional standards, including a national fibre optic backbone and international fibre connections. The chronically poor performing economy has hindered the ability of operators to improve revenue from services and sufficiently invest in infrastructure upgrades, while social unrest in South Sudan continues to impose practical difficulties for telecom operators.

The national telco, Sudatel was privatised more than a decade ago, with major shares and management control now held by Etisalat of the UAE and by Qatar Telecom. It is also listed on several regional stock exchanges. The company presided over the world’s fastest growing fixed-line market until it started substituting traditional copper lines with CDMA2000 fixed-wireless access in 2005.

Competition in the fixed-line market comes from Canartel, which is also majority-owned by Etisalat. The operator also opted for CDMA2000 technology to cost effectively roll out fixed services and, like Sudatel, offers wireless broadband services through this network, having upgraded to the EV-DO standard. The company is lobbying for a licence to offer mobile services as well but is meeting resistance from the other operators.

The market for mobile internet services is flourishing, and traffic for services such as SMS more than tripled in the year to June 2013.

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