Over 90 groups call for Sudan telco infrastructure restoration amid Starlink shutdown concerns
- As war rages in Sudan, 94 humanitarian organisations have expressed concern that the potential shutdown of Starlink would have a “disproportionate impact on civilians and aid organisations trying to reach them.”
- This development follows SpaceX”s announcement to cease operations in the country on April 30 due to telco objections, prompting the Ministry of Communications to file a complaint demanding the cessation of service due to the company’s lack of prior licences.
- Meanwhile, telecom providers in the country have been struggling to regain full control of their services, which have been disrupted by damage to the country’s communications infrastructure, which has severely compromised their systems, resulting in unstable connectivity for voice and data services.
According to a joint statement by humanitarian organisations, “indiscriminate attacks and disruption of telecommunications by warring parties have severely impacted civilians’ ability to cope with the effects of the war, as well as aid workers’ capacity to deliver essential services, with local responders most severely impacted.
“Both sides have consistently used targeted attacks on telecommunication infrastructure or the imposition of bureaucratic restrictions (such as the banning of the importation and use of certain satellite-internet devices). severely impacting civilian populations.”
Per the statement, nearly 30 million Sudanese were left without Internet or phone access for over a month due to a nationwide telecommunications outage in February 2024.
While the groups call for the restoration of telecommunications infrastructure throughout the country, they also urge all parties involved to ensure the continuous provision of telecommunications services in Sudan, emphasising that any disruption of these services violates human rights and could be interpreted as collective punishment, isolating individuals from vital support networks and exacerbating the country’s already severe economic crisis.
Furthermore, the groups urged the United Nations, through the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, to increase emergency telecommunication capacity in the country and provide access to services for all humanitarian groups and civilians until alternative options become available.
Following the country’s over two-month Internet shutdown, some mobile network operators’ (MNOs) services were gradually resuming in April 2024.
Sudan has been at war since April 15, 2023, when a violent clash between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) destroyed homes, towns, livelihoods, and critical civilian infrastructure.
This has caused the country to experience the world’s worst displacement crisis and is on the verge of becoming the world’s worst hunger crisis, with more than half of its population — nearly 25 million people — requiring humanitarian assistance.
Got a tip? Our journalists are ready to dig deeper. Please share your insights and information and help us uncover the stories that matter.
