The Challenge
In early 2024, Sudan was plunged into an escalating civil war, causing a nationwide mobile connectivity blackout. This left millions of Sudanese citizens without access to critical communication or mobile money services, deepening the humanitarian and economic crisis.
The Problem
Three mobile network operators, including Zain Sudan, were unable to restore services, leaving communities isolated and vulnerable during a 40-day blackout period. The crisis affected dozens of millions across urban and rural regions, with mobile wallets serving as the primary financial tool for many.
The Solution
Zain Sudan partnered with Totogi to restore mobile connectivity using a public cloud-native charging solution. With a projected six to nine-month timeline to restore connectivity, Totogi’s innovative approach enabled Zain Sudan to go live in just 18 days.
How it Worked
Totogi’s true SaaS platform, built on AWS, leveraged the scalability and flexibility of the public cloud. This enabled Zain Sudan to bypass physical and logistical challenges, ensuring swift deployment of essential mobile services.
Challenges
Restoring Zain Sudan’s mobile connectivity required overcoming significant challenges, including 24/7 operations, cross-border collaboration, and infrastructure limitations.
The Result
The partnership delivered both financial and operational benefits, including:
- Restoration of network operations, allowing Zain Sudan to resume revenue generation
- Enhanced customer experience with profound human impact
- Restoration of communication services, mobile money, and emergency resources
- Reduced financial loss by half, from $12 million to $6 million per week
- 76% reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO)
- 96% reduction in carbon emissions, using 100% renewable energy by AWS
Conclusion
The Zain Sudan / Totogi collaboration set a new standard for resilience in operations under extreme conditions. Totogi’s innovative technology, combined with an unwavering commitment from their team, has been pivotal in connecting people across Sudan when they needed it most.
Frequently Asked Questions:
-
Q: How long did it take to restore mobile connectivity?
A: 18 days from project initiation -
Q: What was the projected timeline for restoration?
A: 6-9 months -
Q: What was the impact on Zain Sudan’s revenue?
A: Reduced financial loss by half, from $12 million to $6 million per week -
Q: How did Totogi’s solution reduce costs?
A: 76% reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) - Q: What was the environmental impact of the solution?
A: 96% reduction in carbon emissions, using 100% renewable energy by AWS
