Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTC) will invest 110 million euros towards a network expansion programme in its Sudan-based subsidiary, Mobitel, which hopes to see subscribers numbers grow to seven million by 2008.
This is according to Khaled AL Muhtadi, GM of MTC Sudan Mobitel.
MTC is also investing in improving Mobitel`s functional departments, he adds, with the overall expenditure reaching just over 500 million euros in the next five years.
Following the acquisition of the Sudanese mobile operator by MTC, subscriber numbers rose from 1.7 million to 2.2 million in six months. MTC increased its 39% stake in Mobitel to 100% in February.
MTC`s expansion will focus on building the company`s international gateways, VSAT transmission networks, and VAS platforms; including GPRS, MMS and a 3G pilot network, says Muhtadi.
MTC Mobitel signed a 78 million euro deal with Ericsson in May that will help build a larger subscriber base through a more dynamic network in Sudan, the company states. "Acquiring Ericsson`s Intelligent Network Platform will allow Mobitel [to migrate] its core network to a layered network architecture with mobile soft switches and media gateways, which will significantly increase network efficiency and allow us to deploy the latest network technologies in Sudan."
Muhtadi explains Mobitel represents an 85% market share of the 40 million Sudanese population, and there is a need to upgrade network solutions in order to relieve congestion. "Investing in building our own transmission networks and deploying the layered architecture will add intelligence and quality to call processing and handling."
Growing market
According to Muhtadi, Sudan is a promising market, especially with returning refugees from neighbouring countries after the signing of the peace treaty. The mobile penetration figures are less than 9% and the population coverage figures are about 40%.
The country`s size, dispersed population and minimal infrastructure, especially in the war-torn areas, are big challenges to the company`s growth, he notes.
He says MTC is establishing the Mobitel Social Development Fund, with a capital of $6 million, which will focus on initiating development programmes in the areas of health, education and skill development.
Kuwait-based MTC operates in six Middle Eastern and 15 sub-Saharan African countries, where it is known as Celtel.
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