Information Society in Sudan

National Strategy for Building the Information Industry

§        The year 2001 witnessed the declaration and adoption of the National Strategy for Building the Information Industry in Sudan by the Government under the patronage of the President. This strategy was endorsed by the Council of Ministers (decision No 19 dated July 19^th, 2001) setting up a High Ministerial Committee to lead the implementation of the strategy.  The Committee is supported by a technical one, from related ministries and entities, to set forth implementation programs and draft recommendations in respect thereof.

§        The endorsed strategy embraced a vision incarnated in “the realization of an information society established on a firm foundation of information industry allowing all sectors of the society to access information media in a way leading to the widest dissemination and utilization of information, all of which shall contribute to achieve an appreciated economic growth, wealth development, job opportunities, enhancement of all-sector production rates and eradication of poverty. This  shall lead ultimately to the creation of information and knowledge-based society capable of integration, interaction and competition with the global information society and its economies”.

§        The strategy was focused on several actions, most importantly were:-

1.      The establishment of institutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks to achieve an open and transparent environment that supports competition, creativity, skills, capacity building and human resources capable of responding to, and interacting with, the information society requirements. This can be achieved via ongoing education and training.

2.      Securing necessary infrastructure to enable networks to provide affordable access.

3.      Creating competitive market to elevate the usage of modern technology services and applications.

4.      Adopting financing and implementation policies in order to achieve the desired goals.

Milestones on the Road of Implementation of the  Strategy

Actions taken to implement the endorsed strategy have yielded the following:-

1)     The revocation of the concession granted to the Sudanese Telecommunication Company (Sudatel) to monopolize the field of mobile telephony, in 2002, as well as the concession of monopoly in the field of international traffic gateways, by the end of October 2005, to avail fair competition  in the sector.

2)     The licensing of a competitive operator in the field of cellular telephony (AL Bashair, Areeba Co.) in addition to Mobitel and licensing another operator in the field of fixed telecommunications (Kanartel).

3)     The licensing of several Internet and value-added service providers.

4)     The establishment of a fund to support universal service and the information society. Within the framework of this fund the following projects and initiatives were approved:-

a)   A Computer for every home.

b)   School Computers.

c)   Electronic Government Support Project.

d)   University Information Network Project.

e) Embodying the establishment of universal service community centers nationwide in the roll–out and deployment plans of licensed operators.

5)  The filtering of Internet contents which are morally offensive and in violation of public ethics and order, that may promote corruption and deface traditional identity.

6)  Banking Network Scheme led by the Union of Banks including smart-card and electronic banking services.

7)  Establishing the National Information Center.

8)  Introducing experimental applications in the field of tele-educational and tele-medical services via national network.

9)        Adopting the transition to the modern broadband networks and embracing converged services.