Sudan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Zain Group prepares to exit Sudan, citing difficult economic conditions

Sudan's economy has been volatile since South Sudan separated from it in 2011. In a bid to compensate for lost state revenues, the sales and services tax for telcos was raised from 20% to 30%, while the tax on profits was raised from 15% to 30%.

GDP growth was stagnant from 2012, and became negative in 2018, 2019, and 2020. However, the IMF expected that the economy had recovered in 2021, though by only 0.4% in the year.

The effects of hyperinflation and high taxes have been immediate on the telcos. Zain Group had gamely endeavoured to hold on to its interests in the country, though with difficulty. The company invested $30 million to secure additional spectrum in 2020, enabling it to improve the quality and reach of services. The licences for this spectrum run to January 2029.

However, the hyperinflationary economy resulted in a 28.8% fall in reported revenue for the first nine months of 2021, year-on-year. Accepting that its prospects in Sudan are poor, the Group in December 2021 began to evaluate a $1.3 billion offer from Invictus Holding for its units Zain Sudan and the associated Kuwait Sudanese Holdings. Should Zain Group exit Sudan, it would be a move undertaken by companies such as Millicom International and MTN Group, which have similarly withdrawn from markets which have proved to be too hard, and with little return for investment and effort.

1 Key statistics

2 Regional Africa Market Comparison

2.1 Market characteristics
2.2 Market Leaders
2.3 Market Challengers
2.4 Market Emergents
2.5 TMI vs GDP
2.6 Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
2.7 Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

3 Country overview

4 Telecommunications market

4.1 Market analysis

5 Regulatory environment

5.1 Historical overview
5.2 Regulatory authority
5.3 Fixed-line developments
5.4 Mobile network developments

6 Mobile market

6.1 Market analysis
6.2 Mobile statistics
6.3 Mobile data
6.4 Mobile broadband
6.5 Major mobile operators
6.6 Mobile infrastructure
6.7 Other infrastructure developments
6.8 Mobile content and applications

7 Fixed-line broadband market

7.1 Introduction and statistical overview
7.2 Sudan Internet Society (SiS)
7.3 Broadband statistics
7.4 Fixed-line broadband technologies
7.5 Fixed wireless broadband services

8 Digital economy

9 Fixed network operators

9.1 Sudatel
9.2 Canartel (Canar Telecom)

10 Telecommunications infrastructure

10.1 Overview of the national telecom network
10.2 International infrastructure

11 Appendix Historic data

12 Glossary of abbreviations

13 Related reports

Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Sudan 2022 (e)
Table 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 3 Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2020
Table 4 Growth in SMS traffic 2012 2018
Table 5 Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers by operator (million) 2015 2020
Table 6 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 7 Growth in the number of Zain Sudan's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
Table 8 Growth in Zain Sudan's financial data ($ million) 2012 2022
Table 9 Development of Zain Sudan's financial data (SDG million) 2012 2020
Table 10 Growth in the number of MTN Sudan's subscribers 2012 2022
Table 11 Development of MTN Sudan's financial data (ZAR million) 2012 2021
Table 12 Growth in the number of Sudani's mobile subscribers 2012 2020
Table 13 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 14 DSL subscribers 2012 2022
Table 15 Development of Sudatel's financial data ($ million) 2012 2021
Table 16 Growth in the number of fixed lines in service and penetration 2012 2027
Table 17 Development of international bandwidth 2012 2017
Table 18 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1996 2011
Table 19 Historic - Zain Sudan subscribers and ARPU 2003 2011
Table 20 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers 2004 2011
Table 21 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate 1997 2015
Table 22 Historic - Fixed lines in service and penetration 1996 2011
Table 23 Historic - MTN Sudan mobile subscribers 2006 2011
Table 24 Historic - Sudatel financial data ($ million) 2008 2011
Table 25 Historic - Increase in international internet bandwidth 2004 2011
Chart 1 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
Chart 2 Africa Market Leaders global ranking
Chart 3 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 4 Africa Market Challengers global ranking
Chart 5 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 6 Africa Market Emergents global ranking
Chart 7 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 8 Africa Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Africa Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 11 Change in the share of mobile subscribers by operator 2012 2020
Chart 12 Growth in SMS traffic 2012 2018
Chart 13 Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers by operator 2015 2020
Chart 14 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 15 Growth in the number of Zain Sudan's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
Chart 16 Growth in Zain Sudan's financial data 2012 2022
Chart 17 Development of Zain Sudan's financial data 2012 2020
Chart 18 Growth in the number of MTN Sudan's subscribers 2012 2022
Chart 19 Development of MTN Sudan's financial data 2012 2021
Chart 20 Growth in the number of Sudani's mobile subscribers 2012 2020
Chart 21 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 22 Development of Sudatel's financial data 2012 2021
Chart 23 Growth in the number of fixed lines in service and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 24 Development of international bandwidth 2012 2017
Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Africa Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Africa Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Africa Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 2Africa landing stations