Port Sudan has emerged as a vital digital lifeline for Sudan, as fighting across the country has severely crippled telecommunications infrastructure.
The Red Sea city is now essential for data traffic, government services, and banking operations, providing a crucial connection to the outside world.
Historically known as a gateway for trade and humanitarian aid, Port Sudan has taken on a critical technological role amid the conflict, keeping the nation connected as networks in multiple states are damaged or shut down.
With fiber-optic links disrupted, much of the war-torn country's international data traffic now relies on undersea cable routes that land near Port Sudan, supported by satellite backup systems designed for emergencies.
Government offices, media outlets, aid agencies, and millions of civilians depend on this fragile yet essential flow of information.
Engineers working to maintain the network face increasing challenges due to power shortages, security risks, and limited access to equipment. Despite these obstacles, core connectivity has been preserved.
"We lost all three data transformers, the Tier-4 data center that provided hosting for the state, government, and institutions, and the Abu Haraz satellite station entirely. The damage exceeded 70 million dollars. Despite this, we recovered and resumed operations by restoring the core data center, which is now fully operational and serving government bodies, private institutions, and citizens across Sudan," said Mohammed al-Rayeh al-Toum, deputy director general and chief Executive officer for Operations at Sudani Company.
Established in 2006, Sudani provides both fixed and mobile services (2G, 3G, and 4G+) through its wired and wireless infrastructure, making it the only operator in Sudan to offer these services together.
Technical teams are actively rerouting data traffic and activating satellite links when fiber connections fail, as any prolonged disruption risks cutting off entire regions from communications, banking services, and emergency coordination.
Local economist Mohamed Alnaye emphasized the telecommunications sector's resilience in cushioning the broader economic impact of the war.
"The telecommunications sector has played a crucial role during the war, coordinating with banks despite the destruction of key equipment in Khartoum. Operations temporarily moved to Port Sudan, with new equipment from abroad restoring networks efficiently. This effort eased the economic impact, revitalized banking services, and strengthened both the telecom and banking sectors as the government resumed work in Khartoum," he said.
As the conflict continues, Port Sudan's role is expanding beyond that of a port, becoming the backbone of Sudan's digital survival.
Sudan has been embroiled in an armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15, 2023.
Port Sudan emerges as Sudan's digital lifeline amid ongoing conflict
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
