Zain Sudan has set aside US$200 million to expand its mobile network in 2015/2016, it emerged late last week.
The telco’s CEO Elfatih Erwa told Reuters about his spending plan on Friday, and explained that the company has deployed a 4G LTE network in the capital Khartoum but has yet to receive an operating licence from the government.
In mid-May, local news outlets reported that the Sudanese telco ministry planned to approve 4G services within three months.
Also last week, Zain reported that first-half revenue at its Sudan operation grew 6% year-on-year to $355 million, while EBITDA increased 2% to $139 million. Its customer base increased to 11.6 million from 11.4 million.
According to Reuters, Zain Sudan is also still interested in acquiring Etisalat-owned fixed-line provider Canar.
Talks between Zain and Etisalat regarding Canar broke down in 2013, but Friday’s report suggest they could be restarted.
"The desire is still there on both sides," Erwa said in Friday’s report.
