Communications networks and the Internet have been completely cut off since last Tuesday in Sudan (Al Jazeera)

Khartoum -

For the second day in a row, Sudan is experiencing almost complete isolation from the outside world due to the cutting off of communications and Internet services.

Communications and Internet networks have partially stopped since last Friday afternoon in most states of Sudan, then returned in a fluctuating manner before being completely cut off by Tuesday, in a new manifestation of the effects of the war that has been raging in the country since last April between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

The Kuwaiti “Zain”, the South African “MTN” and the Sudanese “Sudani” companies provide; Communications services in Sudan, but - according to communications engineers - they do not have alternative backup operators for emergency situations.

The communications crisis completely isolated the alternative capital in Port Sudan from the outside world, except for those who use Canar’s landline. It is very limited and faces difficulties in working smoothly.

directions

Former Minister of Communications, Hashem Hasab Al-Rasoul, told Al Jazeera Net that what happened was a closure of communications services on instructions from the Rapid Support Forces for companies.

He explained that the current comprehensive shutdown used the same mechanism that the authority resorted to earlier during major events in Sudan, citing the cutting of services when the General Command sit-in was dispersed on June 3, 2019, as well as during the large protests that the country was witnessing.

According to the Messenger, he added: “But this time, the closure was carried out through another new party, which is the de facto authority.” He warned of the "catastrophic" effects of stopping this service on the lives of Sudanese, as it disrupts the economy and people's livelihoods by stopping banking applications, adding that this is considered a "humanitarian crime."

Two communications engineers from Sudani and Zain told Al Jazeera Net that representatives of the Rapid Support Forces stipulated - during a joint meeting with representatives of the telecommunications companies - that service be restored to Kordofan and to 4 of the Darfur states under their control, and they gave the companies 72 hours before the threat was implemented. By cutting off service to all of Sudan.

They explained that an agreement between the two parties to the conflict has been ongoing over the past months that communications should not be part of the weapons used in battle, yet the agreement was violated.

One of the technicians - who preferred to remain anonymous - said that the Rapid Support officials hinted at the possibility of targeting the communications tower. It stores very important information related to the state and universities, and most of them do not have backup copies.

Difficulties

Some areas in Darfur operate to a limited extent via the satellite Internet "Star Link", but its cost is high. It was designed for companies and institutions operating in remote areas. It cannot be purchased or considered a substitute for mobile phone services.

A Zain company source reported that restoring service to Darfur is fraught with technical and security difficulties. It is difficult for teams to repair the ground cables that connect communication stations to each other and are located in remote areas due to security threats.

It cannot be repaired due to the sabotage of communications towers in many major cities, the lack of spare parts, as well as the severe fuel shortage that hinders the operation of generators in light of the almost permanent power outage.

Former Minister of Communications, Hashim Hasab al-Rassoul, confirmed that Darfur was out of service due to technical malfunctions, including the interruption of ground cables and the inability for maintenance teams to reach the malfunction areas due to war conditions.

He said, "Telecommunications companies work in extremely complex circumstances and are thanked for their dedication to continuing services," and he appealed to both parties to provide protection for technical crews and consider them as emergency workers.

Source: Al Jazeera