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From: Mohamed El Bashir Mohamed<admin@isoc.sd> To: Maria Dolores Lizarzaburu <mlizarza@darkwing.uoregon.edu> Cc: <yasir@integratedco.com>, <mat@isoc.sd> Time: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 15:20:39 +0400 Subject: Re: The state of the Internet in Sudan >1) Could you please provide a brief technical description of the Sudan's external >connectivity to the Internet - including upstream provider(s), international >bandwidth of the link(s), etc. ? Sudan was connected to the Internet since 1997 and since that time, the number of the Internet users increased rapidly and Internet communities started to appear. The number of the Internet users in Sudan is estimated in more than 600,000 users. The Gateway in Sudan is managed and operated by Sudanese Telecommunication Company (Sudatel) under the supervision of the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC)- Ministry Of Telecommunication. Sudatel has 2 Internet Gateways, a VSAT Connectivity with about 40 Mbps, and a Sea Cable Connectivity at Port-Sudan ( 200 Mbps ). Sudatel provides about 10 ISPs with Internet bandwidth, most of ISPs operate Dialup Internet access. Last Year Sudatel introduced broadband connectivity and major cities. Two telecom operators are planning to start operation during the course of this year; one of them (Bashair Telecom Co.Ltd) is a mobile operator using GSM technology. The other operator (Kanartel) is a fixed telecom operator which will also start with fixed wireless (perhaps CDMA) to catch up with Sudatel until its infrastructure is completed. Sudatel Monopoly on International Gateways will be lifted on Oct 2005 . >2)Please list the ISPs with external/international connectivity currently operating >in the country, with the information in the following format: ISP in SD Upstream ISP POP location(s) ========= ============= =============== Sudanet Sudatel Khartoum Zinanet Sudatel Khartoum Fastnet Sudatel Khartoum Freenet Sudatel Khartoum Sudacom Sudatel Khartoum >3)Please list the URLs for each ISP above described, and the name and email address >for the appropriate administrative and technical contact. Sudanet = www.sudanet.net.sd ( Tarik Babiker - Technical Manager tarik@sudanmail.net.sd ) Zinanet = www.zinanet.net ( info@zinanet ) Sudacom = www.sudacom.net ( Yassir Allob - CEO yaloob@comsuda.com ) >4) Do you know about any links to information about the academic networking >development? Ministry of Higher Education and Research is establishing a Universities Network project. The Project will provide data connectivity to about 50 Universities and colleges. Email, Intranet, elibrary and video conference will be provided through the network. Prof.Sidig Hayati ( shayatti@yahoo.com ) is the head of Research Dpt, Ministry of Higher Education & Research is managing the Project. >5)What do you see as the prospects for Internet growth in Sudan; what would help it, >and what are currently the major obstacles? After the implementation of the peace agreement, southern Sudan is expected to have huge development in the telecom area. First networks will be wireless to cater for the immediate needs of newly established government institutions, NGOs and businesses, so wireless broadband Internet access will be introduced. From all the above and given the expected economical boom expected due to increased oil production, peace and reconciliation of international relations; the growth in this field is expected to be a two digit annual percentage for the next coming ten years. New Services and Applications will be introduced specially, Local web hosting services . The Main obstacles are PC penetration, there is government initiatives to provide Affordable PC through IT Fund Council. Mohamed El Bashir Mohamed <admin@isoc.sd>
