---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 20:52:04 +0100
From: Hanadi Abdelsalam <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Sudan Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A very breif history of internet in Sudan

Dear friends,

The following message is received by phone, so
please excuse any typo mistakes.

Hanadi

************** Beginning of message ***********************************

This is an extremely brief and limited history of the internet in Sudan.

1. Some talks about Internet in Sudan and U. of Kh. forms its internet
committee (UKIC).

2. UKIC looks for various options.

3. Decisions made by the government about internet with SudaTel, with
exemption for U. of Kh.

4. SudaTel privately makes an offer with U. of Kh. regarding connection to
internet.

5. UKIC delegate a team to discuss the matter with SudaTel. In the
meeting SudaTel goes back to the costing of $270,000 for 64 Kbs.

6. Out of the meeting the team decide to go immediately and approach Sudan
TV Satellite Station Company (STSSC) to check whether, beside the analogue,
if they are using digital.

7. This led to several meetings with Mr. Mohamed Osman, chairman of STSSC,
( a man with vision) what materialized out of these that they will be
getting equipments + needed the hard ware to become an Internet Service
Provider (ISP). After several months they offered a joined vension with U.
of Kh.

8. Meanwhile, several public meetings regarding internet and various other
meetings and discussions specially with SudaTel took place. SudaTel
started to become reasonable of its costings regarding ISP, and this led
to an offer from SudaTel to U. of Kh. plus three other bodies to form a
company that will provide an ISP in Sudan.

9. STSSC chairman and others who are interested in becoming an ISP in the
Sudan were bocked down by the fact that SudaTel has the monoploy over
international connections to Sudan.

10. Sudatel had a change in its management team.

11. Worthy people from UNDP try to get the internet issue going for several
meetings.

12. SudaTel pursue the internet issue by looking hardware and connections,
but unfortunately difficulties arose (say no more about it).


Situation up to Mid-May:
-----------------------

1. The STSSC chairman got his hardware installed and started offering
trial internet (browsing service only).

2. Sudatel opened an office for the public, mainly for demonstration of
internet and a bit of access.

3. Plugs started to be pulled on STSSC for infringing SudaTel monopoly.
However, this matter might be resolved by some compromise between the two
parties.

4. SudaTel signed contracts to get hardware but had not finalized its
connections with one of the international backbones (this may be related
to the the difficulties mentioned before). However, it is expected by
coming July that the hardware will be installed and service will be
provided (but you may never know).

5. SudaTel at the moment is doing some good work regarding networks in
Sudan by placing fibre optic cables to all the telephone exchanges in the
capital and extending it to some other cities in Sudan, and they are
incouraging the formation of LANs (Local Area Networks) in Khartoum with
the idea to connect them to its system of fibre optic cabling creating
WANs (Wide Area Networks) (obviously their investment is paying well
enough to allow them for advanced thinking of IT in Sudan).


I'm sure I have not mentioned many other history points and names that has
been involved in the issue of internet in Sudan. However, I would like to
mention one, Sayed Ali Shumo who has always been there giving full support
and push to the issue of internet in the Suadn.

Regards
Dr. Muawia Shaddad