(Ecofin Agency) - After the coronavirus pandemic, telecom consumers’ needs have greatly changed. To keep up with the challenge, telecom operators are investing heavily to meet current and future needs and be competitive in the coming years. 

Kuwaiti telecom group Zain announced, Wednesday (Nov 30), it would invest US$800 million in its Sudanese operations over the next five years. The investment aims to help upgrade the network infrastructure and deploy new ones to meet the growing demand for digital services. 

The investment program comes against a backdrop of accelerated digital transformation, including strong consumer demand for broadband connectivity and the emergence of new digital consumption patterns. Telecom operators are therefore investing in upgrading their networks to introduce the latest technologies and reach more people.

Recently, MTN Group, Zain's main rival in Sudan, signed a partnership agreement with U.S.-based LigaData to accelerate the digital transformation of its operations in the country. The company also has a 10-year partnership underway with Canada's NuRAN Wireless to deploy more than 500 telecom sites in the country’s rural areas.

The announced investment is therefore expected to strengthen Zain’s position in the Sudanese telecom market. For the first nine months of 2022, Zain generated revenues estimated at US$339 million (up 41%) with EBITDA estimated at US$178 million. During the period, the operator’s subscriber base also grew to 16.2 million subscribers. 

Isaac K. Kassouwi