Feasibility of Rural Communication in Sudan

1.  ITU/BDT Arab Regional Workshop on “Visibility of Rural Connectivity” Khartoum – Sudan, 05-07 September 2004 CoE/ARB Feasibility of Rural Communication By: Zuhur Kheder Ibrahim Sudan Telecom Company Ltd.(Sudatel) Tel:0024983741003 Zuhur12@hotmail.com

2. Contents • Introduction • Definition • Historical background of communication in Sudan • Objectives • The growth of rural communication • Rural areas networks. • Benefits of Rural communication. • Conclusion & recommendation • References 2

3. Introduction • Sudan is a largest country in Africa, occupying an area of 2.492.360 million square kms,bounded by eight countries • Its population is about 34 million.( and almost 70% of them are rural and nomadic inhabitant • An annual growth rate of 2.63 % (1998-2003) • The average population density is 14 per square kms. • The main activities are agriculture , livestock , industry & commerce 3

4. Definition of Rural Communication The common definition of rural areas by stating that it is ((a non urban))which is translate into the following demographic parameters : • Less than 5000 people residing in the area. • Population density less than 400 per sq.km. • More than 75% of the male population engaging in agricultural activities. 4

5. Historical background of Telecommunication in Sudan • Before 1994 Telecommunication industry in Sudan was purely a government ownership. • On September 1993, the government decided on the issue of privatization of telecommunication in the country. • private company was established under the name of Sudan telecommunication co. ltd. (Sudatel) . • On January 2nd 1994 Sudatel started as a network operator and telephone service provider. 5

6. Rural communication objectives The rural communication established and manipulated the following { recently and future objectives):- • Political objective Improve access to decentralization & government programms and services to rural area. • Economic objective Improve access to financial resources for rural business and community development • Cultural objective Provide more targeted opportunities, programs and services for rural youth, including the indigenous (net, digital…ect.) • Strengthen rural community capacity building, leadership and skills development . • Create opportunities for rural communities to maintain and develop infrastructure for community development. • Connect rural areas to the knowledge-based economy and society and help them acquire the skills to use the technology. • Strengthen economic diversification in rural area through more targeted assistance . • Assist in adaptation of the agricultural ,livestock sectors 6

7. The growth of rural communication The demand for fixed telephone is increasing mainly in rural areas, beside the increasing demand for data service, this due to the improvement in the economy and the standard of living. Also during the last five-year, many foreign investors came to Sudan investing in petroleum industry, agriculture, construction…etc.and all this is productive areas so we need to provide rural communication. The underlying schedule shows the growth of rural communication in Sudan The growth of rural communication 7

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9. Port Sudan Wadi Halfa الحفير دنقلا كريمة Suakin هيا مروى عطبرة حلفا الجديدة كسلا الفاشر Khartoum Elguneyna مدني بارا المناقل القضارف الدويم الابيض زالنجى Nyala سنار كوستى دوكة بابنوسة سنجة كنانة الدمازين المجلد الرنك هجليج ملكال واو Juba Planned Networks Operating Networks Rural areas Networks • Rural Network Sites • Kassala Aroma • Gedaref • New Halfa • El-Fau • Central Gezira • Northern Gezira • El-Managil. • El-Damazin • Blue Nile • White Nile • El-Obayeid • Bara • Higleeg • Shendi. • Dongola • Karima • 3 cities (Atbara, Abu-Hamad, Debba) • Greater Khartoum. fiber 9

10. The Benefits of rural communication • As we know all developing countries running fast to get rid of lacking communication to join internationally with out side world linked of trade , services , consultation ,all scientific arguments , so dawn step we benefit more to link all our rural area by our urban cores in all different way of life ,education at last, first moving of commodities between regions .also assist more in squeezing down the headache of internal migration {connect demand and supply of human needs at home} • Also the rural regional universities are benefit a lot from techniques of communication in kind of distance learning ,consultation , training all assist more directly to medicine & medical care on one aside of learning in its self and on it other side in a diagnostic of patient disorder. 10

11. The Benefits of rural communication - cont. • Data ,information is change economy. • Moving eco-activity from production areas to consuming area by means of communication • Decrease the rate of high ways traffic accident (instated of a man it is message) I.e development of rural and squater areas. • Fight unemployment by absorb amass of employee in communication rural stations,& centers (new jobs other than agrarian , posture activities). • Fight inflation by stabilizing prices between regions {decreasing price discrimination}. • Build up forward and backward linkage between economic sectors in kind of infrastructure of information and data. • Strengthen social web( relation and families tied) 11

12. Rural communication assists R.development Communication assists and accelerates the development cycle in away of : • moving economic activities from rural areas to urban areas in a kind of financial goods and services . • price discrimination between regions will be decreased to a level equally to a degree of data acquired . By now then the majority of our country is linked & tied by comm.so for rural development means promotion of relationship between families which denoted by extended families so there is increase moving of information and data between rural families & their relative out side Sudan expaterate by increase the data base which economically increase the revenue generated from communication and services. Minted by all means and accessories . 12

13. Conclusion&Recommendations • Encourage the implementation of new technologies in rural communication • Encourage the rural communication industry.(most of our national production in rural area) • Select qualified tech. to operate and maintain the rural network. • Consider the rapidly technology changes.. • Consider the cost of services & equipment (to be available for all rural inhabitants) • To maximize the utilization of available satellite bandwidth • To upgrade the existing net work to accommodate new services . • To increase knowledge of using communication technology in rural societies through mass media • To implement new technology in rural com. so as to gain lower network cost , less installation time, 13

14. Reference: • Sudatel annual report 2003. • Quality Unit, technical div. • Public relations Unit • Rural comm. Operating div. 14

15. تم بحمد الله 15