1. ICT infrastructure in SUDAN
a small step Towards a great project (e-Government)
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region
UAE - Dubai
22-25 November 2004
Presented by:
ASIM ABDELWAHAB ABDORABO
Manager, IP NETWORK
SUDATEL

2. Presentation structure:
PART 1 e-Government concept, opportunities and success factors
PART 2 e–government status in SUDAN ( Highlights)
PART 3 Figures & Facts about the Telecom Infrastructure in SUDAN
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

3. PART 1 e-Government concept and opportunities and success factors
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

4. WHAT is e-GOVERNMENT ?
e-Government means different things for different people. Some simply define it as digital governmental information or a way of engaging in digital transactions with customers. For others e-Government simply consists of the creation of a web site where information about political and governmental issues is presented.
These narrow ways of defining and conceptualizing e-Government restrict the range of opportunities it offers. One of the reasons why many e-Government initiatives fail is related to the narrow definition and poor understanding of the e-Government concept, processes and functions.
e-Government is a multidimensional and complex concept, which requires a broad definition and understanding, in order to be able to design and implement a successful strategy.
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

5. e-GOVERNMENT DEFINITION
e-Government is the government owned or operated systems of information and communication technologies that transform relations with citizens, the private sector and/or other government agencies so as to promote citizens’ empowerment, improve service delivery, strengthen accountability, increase transparency, or improve government efficiency.
World Bank
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

6. OPPORTUNITIES OF e-GOVERNMENT
Benefits assured by using the applications of e-Government in developing
countries are the same as those in developed countries.
Cost reduction and efficiency gains.
Quality of service delivery to businesses and customers.
Transparency, anticorruption, accountability.
Increase the capacity of government.
Network and community creation.
Improve the quality of decision making.
Promote use of ICT in other sectors of the society.
Note:-
The digital divide between richer countries and developing ones is large with
high-income economies having 416 personal computers per 1,000 people and
low-income economies only 6 per 1,000 (World Bank, 2003).
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

7. CHALLENGES FOR A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF e-GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
ICT infrastructure (e-readiness, computer literacy, telecommunication infrastructure ).
Policy issues (legislation)
Human capital development and life long learning (skills, capabilities, education, learning, Training)
Change management (culture, resistance to change)
Partnership and collaboration (public/private partnership, community and network creation)
Strategy (clear vision, mission)
Leadership role (awareness,motivate, involve, influence, support)
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

8. PLANING AND MANAGEING e-GOVERNMENT PROJECTS
establishing e-government teams within government.
ensure the project management team has sufficient authority.
develop a work plan to implement the priority e-government projects.
The work plan should focus on the following key elements:
Content Development: including development of applications, open standards, local language interfaces, user guides and e-learning materials.
Competency Building: human resources and training programs must be implemented at all levels.
Connectivity: local networks and Internet connections must be applied across the relevant agencies or enterprises.
Cyber laws: to provide a legal framework that supports the objectives of e-government policies and projects.
Citizen Interfaces: a proper mix of delivery channels is needed to ensure that e-government is accessible and affordable for users.
Capital: e-government business plans must identify revenue streams like user charges, subscriptions or budgets that will help achieve financial equilibrium
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

9. Readiness for e-Government is not only a governmental issue
e-GOVERNMENT READINESS
Readiness for e-Government is not only a governmental issue
Readiness starts with political will
Readiness also rests on information policy
Other key factors for readiness:
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Current connectivity and ICT usage by Government
Human capacity within Government
Existing and expected budgetary resources
e-Business climate
Officials’ readiness to change
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

10. PART 2 e–government status in SUDAN (Highlights)
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

11. AREA…………………………..……. 2,505,800 sq km ( 967,490 sq mi)
ABOUT SUDAN
AREA…………………………..……. 2,505,800 sq km ( 967,490 sq mi)
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the United States
POPULATION………………………. 33,000,000 (est.)
STATES…………………………….…26
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES……..9
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

12. Highlights on e–government in SUDAN
Sudan is still at the beginning of the road in the field of the computerization of various systems.  Hence, it is inevitable to divide the strategy of access to the e-government into phases. 
Stages of the e–government in SUDAN
In view of the degree of interaction between the citizens and the governmental bodies which provide the services, the strategy could be divided into four phases,
obtainment of information on the services,
unilateral interaction on the part of the beneficiary;
bilateral interaction between the citizen and the service provider
and in the last stage a complete interaction will take place.
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

13. Phase 1 : obtaining information on the service
Brief description for each phase
Phase 1 : obtaining information on the service
This is the first step toward the e- government.  In this step the provider of the service provides information on the available services.  This information includes in the minimum, a detailing of the documents to be provided by the one who request and apply for the service, as follows:-
The fees to be paid by the service applicant
The steps to be followed by the service applicant and the procedural
sequence. 
The address of the service provider and the method to obtain the
necessary forms. 
Phase 2 : the federal interaction
It is a stage subsequent to the first stage, in which the service applicant manage to obtain the forms form the service provider site, yet, it is not possible for him to fill these forms on the network, however, he must print it.
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

14. Phase 3 : the bilateral interaction
Brief description for each phase ……(continued)
Phase 3 : the bilateral interaction
In this phase the service applicant is able to request the service electronically, and filling the forms on the website.  He expect to obtain the final result through the website.  Also, the service applicant might be able to pay the required fees through the network.
Phase 4 : complete interaction
In this phase, the service provider is able to follow-up the cases from the beginning and to obtain additional information from other bodies whether it is governmental or others, and the one who request the service will be able to know the position of the interaction which he requested.  The interaction continues between the different authorities until the application is finally decided upon negatively or positively. 
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

15. The e- government Executive steps
Supporting information centers in federal ministries and in the States with computer systems and completion of building of local networks inside these units.
Establishment of specialized data- bases as an infrastructures to provide electronic services.
Linking local networks into a broad National network.
Training of employees in the ministries and in the states
Establishment of the governmental services website on the network
Establishment of communication centers, in cooperation with the private sector in the urban towns and the rural areas.  
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

16. PART 3 Figures & Facts about the Telecommunication Infrastructure in SUDAN
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

17. ICT INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUDAN FIXED TELEPHONE
Telephone Network capacity 1,738,600 line
Switches capacity 1,306,436 port
Number of subscriber 936,756
Teledensity 3.9 % ( SUDAN population 38 M)
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

18. DATA NETWORK The 1st Data Switched was introduced in 1997.
Technologies
X.25,
Frame Relay,
ISDN
and ATM.
IP backbone planned to be implemented in Q
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

19. DATA COMMUNICATION CUSTOMERS
27 governmental and commercial Bank (the network consists of 256 branch (Total branch > 600) .
Most of the Universities and ministries are connected to their branches .
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

20. INTERNET BW (Mbps)
INTERNET Earth Station max capacity STM-1 up & down link
STM-1 via submarine cable PORTSUDAN – JEDDAH will be introduced Q
STM-1 via Fiber cable SUDAN – EGYPT will be introduced Q
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

21. # of ISPs in SUDAN No. of ISP is 20 ( 2004)
They are mainly providing Dialup service (Analog and ISDN).
The Internet service is nearly available in the main cities ( more than 75 % coverage)
Others using national calls or VSAT stations.
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

22. INTERNET Dial up Users
The Internet subscription is FREE since Oct 2002
Call charge is 3 SD / min = 1.15 cent / min
Traffic generated from Internet usage is more than 35 M minute / month
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

23. BROADBAND INTERNET (DSL & BBW)
DSL service introduced in 2003
expected to grow very fast because of the highly demand
Only few Broadband Wireless stations covering remote areas ( out of the network reach)
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

24. Optical Fiber Network Total Fiber Length > 6500 Km .
To EGYPT To
SAUDI ARABIA
Optical Fiber Network
WADI HALFA
PORTSUDAN
سواكن
سلوم
كرمة
برقيق
كريمة
جبيت
الحفير
أرقو
مروي
هيا
DONGOLA
ودموسى
مسمار
سنكات
تنقاسي
القرير
مسعود
الحديقة *
القولد
كورتي *
درديب
الغابة *
الروجل
الدبة
عطبرة
العكد
المحمية
الدامر
بانقا
شندي
الجيلي *
KASSALA
KHARTOUM
المصفاة
To CHAD
الباقير
الحصاحيصا
الكاملين
القضارف
خشم القربة
مدني
الشوك
الجنينة
EL FASHER
فداسي
الدويم
EL OBIED
المناقل
الفاو
كوستي
دوكة
أم روابة
الحاج عبدالله
ود الحداد
المقرح
زالنجي
الدبيبات
تندلتي
كنانة
سنار
سنجة
مايرنو
أبوزبد
الرهد
نيالا
نيالا
أبوكوع *
الرنك
شرم
بابنوسة
To ETHIOPIA
الفولة
الضعين
عديلة
المجلد
Total Fiber Length > 6500 Km .
STM-16 & STM-64 rings SDH Technology
Digital Microwave Links connecting rural areas to the O.F Backbone .
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

25. Mobile Coverage In SUDAN
Number of Subscriber 724,000
(2003)
Existing coverage
Planned

26. Tele-density (per 100 inhabitant)
Source :ICT in the ARAB world , Dr. Ibrahim Algadi
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

27. Telephones per 100 Inhabitants (2001)
Source :ICT in the ARAB world , Dr. Ibrahim Algadi
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

28. Mobile subscribers per 100 inhabitants (Feb. 2004)
Source :ICT in the ARAB world , Dr. Ibrahim Algadi
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

29. INTERNET users per 100 inhabitants (2003)
Source :ICT in the ARAB world , Dr. Ibrahim Algadi
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

30. References & sources:-
The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries,
Roadmap for e-government in the Developing World
SUDATEL annual report 2003 ,
National Information Center ( SUDAN)
World Bank web site
ICT in the ARAB world , Dr. Ibrahim Algadi
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004

31. ASIM ABDELWAHAB ABDORABO
THANK YOU
ASIM ABDELWAHAB ABDORABO
Manager, IP Network
SUDAN TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY
Tel : –
Fax : –
Mobile : –
e-Government and IP Symposium for the Arab Region Dubai-UAE Nov 2004