South African payphone enters Sudan market

Nov 12, 2006 (NAIROBI) — Two years after setting up shop in East Africa, the South African payphone manufacturer Psitek has entered the Sudan market.

Psitek East Africa Country Manager for Kenya and Tanzania, Mr Vincent Mutavi, said the firm had received the necessary regulatory approvals in Sudan, largely seen by many as still virgin.

Sudan began its telecommunications sector reform in 1993 but real developments happened only after the discovery of oil in 1997, which has helped spur growth and generate much-needed foreign exchange.

Psitek’s is already in Uganda and Tanzania. Its range of products, mainly made up of payphones, includes Adondo, Jembi, Fusion and Tici.

About 30,000 payphones have been sold in Uganda and Tanzania, making a mark in the region’s fast-changing telecommunications market. The company also sells its telephones to Australia, Brazil, Malaysia and Mexico.

Psitek was mid this year awarded the prestigious SABS Design Excellence Award for the design of a product (Jembi) that has been able to revolutionise telephony across Africa. Jembi won the award in the ICT category.

(East African)