Total Project Cost
Investment Required
Stakeholders
Countries
Project Overview
Description
Project to enhance regional ICT coverage by providing services for unconnected customers with satisfied and affordable quality and prices. Focus on creating regional hub through Sudan with high-quality ducted fiber infrastructure.
Additionally, this corridor enhances Sudan’s role as a digital gateway by linking Port Sudan’s undersea cable landings to inland Central African states—supporting connectivity to Chad, CAR, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. It seeks to furnish broadband access, reduce satellite reliance for humanitarian actors, and strengthen regional integration under SDG 9 and AU Agenda 2063.
Objectives
Project Objectives: Create regional Hub through Sudan, Provide affordable broadband, Connect landlocked countries, Create open access gateway, Enhance cross-border connectivity, Improve service quality, Support digital inclusion, Enable economic growth
Strategic Importance
Critical for regional digital connectivity and landlocked country access
Technical Specifications
Technology & Design
High-quality ducted fiber system with distributed access capability
Capacity & Size
High-quality ducted fiber (130-170 cm depth) with multi-mode capacity and distributed access points
Technical Details
Technical Features: Ducted 130-170 cm depth, Multi-mode capacity, High bandwidth, Distributed open access points
Additionally, specific technical engineering details (cable length, fiber standards, node design) remain undisclosed publicly and require verification.
Development, Implementation & Financial Details
Development Timeline
Route planning completed, Technical specifications defined, Pre-feasibility initiated with regional stability considerations
Latest Implementation Updates
UPDATED- 2024-08-21: Emergency Telecommunications Cluster activated a 1 Gbps subsea fiber connection at Port Sudan landing site to support humanitarian comms. [Source](https://www.etcluster.org/blog/undersea-cable-delivers-critical-connectivity-sudan)
- ~2024-09: ETC announced US$3 million in networking equipment deployment to key hubs (Khartoum, Kassala, Dongola, etc.); total budget set at US$6.3 million with only ~US$316,000 secured from FCDO. [Source](https://developingtelecoms.com/index.php?acm=_1184&catid=40&id=17265%3Aetc-gets-gigabit-subsea-connection-in-sudan-for-humanitarian-ops)
2025-04-30 — ETC Sudan SitRep (April 2025): humanitarian operations in Port Sudan now leverage a 1 Gb undersea-fed “local loop”; connectivity extended to 16+ sites across Port Sudan/Kassala/Dongola/Al-Gedarif despite conflict-related constraints. [https://etcluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/ETC%20Sudan%20SitRep_April%202025.pdf]
2025-08-26 — ReliefWeb/ETC update: continued ETC network operations and expansion in Sudan; underscores fragility and the need for resilient national backbones. [https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-etc-operations-august-2025-emergency-telecommunications-cluster-etc]
Financing Structure
Mixed public-private funding potential with regional coordination
Project Timeline
Development Timeline
Route planning completed, Technical specifications defined, Pre-feasibility initiated with regional stability considerations
Project Status History
Status 2020
Project Definition
Status 2022
Project Definition
Status 2024
Pre-Feasibility
Additional Project Details
Construction Timeline
Technical planning phase with route optimization
Legal & Financial Advisors
Not Available
Market Analysis
Market Analysis
Growing connectivity demand across landlocked countries
Market Demand
Regional populations and businesses, particularly in landlocked areas
Key Stakeholders
Project Sponsor
Regional Authorities with COMESA coordination
Key Parties
National ICT Authorities, Regional Coordination Bodies
Investors
Mixed public-private investors
Contractors & Operators
Not Available
Risk Assessment
General Risk Assessment
Regional stability concerns, Implementation complexity, Security considerations, Cross-border coordination challenges
Regulatory Risks
Regional agreements needed with stability and security considerations
Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact
Environmental assessment required for route planning
Social Impact
Regional development impact with improved connectivity for underserved areas
Investment Opportunities
Private Sector Opportunities
Infrastructure development opportunities despite regional challenges
Next Steps & Agreements
Next Steps
Complete pre-feasibility studies considering regional stability factors
Offtake Agreements
Not Available
Contact Information
Not Available
