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Information Communication Technology
telecom entity. The acquisition of 61% of Mobitel
from Sudatel was valued at US$ 1.332 billion
Zain has since invested more than $800 million in
Zain’s network expansion and improvement. In a
move to realize the objectives of providing coverage
to 86 per cent of Sudan’s population, with more than
1700 sites, and is the first operator in the country
to cover the whole of South Sudan and the three
States of Darfur, in addition to deploying 3 and 3.5G
networks in major cities for Data services, which is
considered the main strategy for 2010.
In its ongoing development, Zain has engaged more
than 600 new employees within an advanced plan to
further enhance the company’s performance. It also
continue to engage employees in training programs
to enhance their performance and keep them up to
date with World’s current trends for running the Com-
pany in an ever efficient manner.
Zain undertakes a serious role in corporate social
responsibility and allocates a considerable annual
fund to support worthy causes and projects that
benefit the Sudanese community. The sectors of
community and social development adopted by Zain
are: Health; Education; Skills Development/Training
and the Conservation of the Environment in all Prov-
inces/States of the vast and outstretched Country of
Sudan.
The telecommunications sector is highly com-
petitive in Sudan with key 3 players. How may
this be viewed? What potential is there for
growth?
Sudan is a vast country therefore a fourth entrant
to the telecom market will be accommodated when
a solid infrastructure is in place. Currently the mo-
bile network in Sudan covers merely 40%. We, at
Zain, believe that putting a mobile handset in every
hand is a positive indication of development and it
is undeniable that how a well connected community
can encourage a country’s progress. If we operate in
such an advanced country, we can progress smooth-
ly; the world of mobile communication is limitless in
terms of services provided to subscribers, and with
our solid and secure infrastructure we can certainly
multiply our services and subscribers.
The potential for growth is believed to be in data
communications and Zain is planning to vastly in-
crease its data services in this year.
It is claimed in Zain’s mission statement that
it drives the Sudanese economy forward, how
does it do this?
Zain is one of the biggest companies in Sudan and
thus it makes large contributions to Sudan’s eco-
nomical growth. Furthermore it contributes indirectly
by supplying the country with a highly advanced
communication network which shortens the long
distances and reduces communication time. This is
in addition to equipping the national workforce with
highly qualified specialists, as Zain invests heavily
in advancing its employees. A considerable propor-
tion of Zain’s budget is allocated to the training of
employees.
Zain creates employment in an unorthodox way. In
one of our investigations we found out that whenever
a Zain tower is constructed, the economy in the area
around the mast is automatically boosted by 20-30%
due to the trade created in selling top-up vouchers.
This means that the virtual presence of Zain can be
described as an economy driver/developer.
Moreover there is the element of Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), which forms a significant part
of our strategy. Zain has always been involved in So-
cial Development, because an advanced community
is a healthy place for undertaking business. Zain
performs CSR in the following sectors: health, edu-
cation, skills, development (capacity building) and
environmental conservation. These are in addition
to other fields of community support in which Zain
has been involved, to name but a few examples:
Zain has constructed a modern and fully equipped
hospital with a gynecology department in Northern
Kordofan, maintained renovated and supplied sev-
eral schools in Southern Sudan, constructed a state
of the art arrival hall in Khartoum International Airport
and partnered with several Universities in the Coun-
try in diverse areas of higher education.
What tools/policies are used to motivate the
workforce at Zain?
Zain Sudan is committed to ensuring a positive work
and learning environment, where all employees are
treated fairly and with respect; individually regard-
less of their grade or social status.
Zain Sudan Talent Management Strategies rec-
ognize that people are an organization’s greatest
strength to provide competitive advantage. Several
programs have been implemented to attract fresh
talents as well as to develop and deploy internal tal-
ent to meet objectives in a changing economic con-
text. The programs aim to develop the key business
behaviors for effectiveness and success in business
in an ever increasingly competitive environment.