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Information Communication Technology
International telecommunications in the country pro-
vide high-quality links to the rest of the world. The
remarkable transformation and achievements wit-
nessed in the sector, coupled with the growing and
diversifying use of ICT services including those of
the Internet and its applications have been a suc-
cess story that has elevated Sudan to be renowned
as one of the most developed in Africa.The market
is still considered unspoilt and huge investment op-
portunities exist and shall explode with the full reali-
zation of peace and stability throughout the country.
The telecommunication sector currently has an an-
nual growth of 30%, making it the fastest growing
in the world, and creating a capital-attracting, pro-
competitive policy environment that is fostering the
build-up of a modern, fully-digital infrastructure.
MAIN COMPANIES
MTN
Manchyia east 60
th
ave, block 64 district 1D,
Elgerief west, PO Box 346
11111 Khartoum
Tel : +249 183 745566
Fax : +249 923 222000
www.mtn.com
Date of Creation: 2005
No. Employees: 900
MTN started the operations in Sudan under the
name of Arriba around 2005. Then, around 2006,
MTN acquired one of the subsidiaries of Invescon.
Invescon had by that time around twelve operations
in the Middle East and Africa, mainly in Yemen,
Syria, Cyprus, Sudan, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Ni-
geria, and Benin. By this acquisition MTN became
a group of 21 operations around Middle East and
Africa where in the Middle East they got the new
Iran operation, and Nigeria and South Africa in Afri-
ca. They also had new small operations in Rwanda,
Zambia, Swaziland, etc.
When MTN entered Sudan, it was one of the main
operations for the company because it was one of
the few remaining underpenetrated markets at that
time, and even until now.
There is still a lot of potential to grow in the market
because the penetration in 2009 was around 35%,
whereas in other African countries the normal stand-
ard is around 60-70%. There are two other operators
competing in the market, Sudani and Zain (for GSM
operators). There are other GSM operators but they
are licensed to work only in the South (Vivacel and
Gentel). There are two fixed lines operators, Sudatel
and Canar (which is both land line and mobile). But
there are still a lot of things to do and a big number
of subscribers to acquire. MTN Sudan has a 28%
market share in a 19 million persons market with
average revenue per user of USD7.
MTN Sudan’s distributors have more than 8 500
points of sale in the country. They have commenced
work on revamping the sales and distribution chan-
nels, with opportunities identified beyond greater
Khartoum, in southern Sudan and across rural ar-
eas. MTN Sudan’s network now covers 45,3% of the
population, up from 42,8% at the end of 2007.
MTN Sudan implemented a new staff development
and succession plan during the year to attract and
retain key talent, and also revised remuneration to
be in line with the market.
The size of the Sudanese telecoms market is ex-
pected to grow significantly in the next five years.
This will be driven by higher uptake in areas outside
the capital, Khartoum, where MTN Sudan continues
to roll-out infrastructure. MTN intends to grow its
share of mobile revenue by growing its subscriber
base. Within the next 3 to 5 years, MTN would like
to be in every little village in the country. Their strat-
egy is to reach 90 to 95% population coverage, in
addition to keep on pushing the market in terms of
innovative products. That will allow the people from
all segments to have access to the mobile phones.
One of the main points of the strategy of MTN is to
develop the societies where it is working. When they
are involved in the development of the economy and
the society, by the end they develop the business.
This is why one of the main entities in any MTN
operation is the MTN CSR department. They also
have an NGO, the MTN foundation. MTN invests in
cultural and sports events and develop microfinance
activities for women. This is one of the last activi-
ties they have launched in Sudan. So far, they were
able to finance a lot of activities driven by women:
to recharge paid phone… so they finance it for them
to be able to do business. So far the result is good.
There is also a water project, Karima project, where
MTN finances an access to water in the region. And
every year, they have the “21 y’ello days” where all
the employees participate in social activities like
cleaning the public places or taking care of the el-
derly.