CBS Expert Commends Move to Make USSD Technology Available

Sudanhorizon – Hala Hamza
The former Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan(CBS) , Abdullah Al-Hassan Mohammed Al-Bashir has described moves by the Sudanese Ministry of Digital Transformation and Communications to make USSD technology available for banking services, in coordination with the Bank of Sudan and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, as an excellent initiative.
Al-Bashir explained in a statement to Sudanhorizon that this is a communication protocol used in GSM phones for direct communication with the mobile operator’s network at the highest possible time. He said it is known for its fast codes and is characterized by the speed with which services are completed without the need for internet, and by its direct and rapid interaction compared to SMS messages.
Al-Bashir pointed out that this technology is used for checking and topping up balances, mobile banking services, finding phone numbers, and changing network settings such as activating or deactivating call blocking or call forwarding. He ruled out any difficulties for bank customers using USSD technology in banking services, given their prior familiarity with it. He also noted that banking services are already available to bank customers, as announced by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Communications. He affirmed the potential for expanding banking services to include loan and credit applications, issuing guarantees, and buying and selling foreign currency through the bank.
The expert emphasized that the CBS adopted a “Technology Horizons Strategy” in 2007 which resulted in implementing significant technological projects, surpassing many Arab and African countries in developing the infrastructure for payment systems. Key among these projects were the establishment of an electronic banking network, the installation of an electronic clearing system for local and foreign currency checks, enabling transfers between bank customers’ accounts, the creation of an ATM network, the provision of point-of-sale (POS) services, the operation of the national payment switch, and the development of electronic banking applications, most notably Bankak, Okash, Fawry, and Sahil.
He explained that the Electronic Banking Services Company (EBS) operated these electronic systems until they were shut down at the start of the war, April 15, 2023. Some of these services were restored after the war, while others were restored using slightly different technologies, such as transfers between bank customers’ accounts.
The former Assistant Governor considered USSD technology a significant development for promoting and increasing financial inclusion in Sudan, extending banking services to remote areas, attracting more resources to the banking system, reforming it, and ensuring its continued operation. He described its implementation in banking services as one of the successes of the Central Bank’s policies for 2026. This policy prioritizes reforming the banking system through digital transformation, modernizing payment systems technologies and devices, strengthening the digital infrastructure, and expanding the reach of digital payments.
The Assistant Governor proposed a partnership between the CBS, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Communications, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to develop a digital transformation strategy, including its objectives, implementation matrix, and phases.
He suggested tasking the Electronic Banking Services Company (EBS) with this responsibility and restructuring it so that its ownership would be shared by the CBS and the Sudanese Banks Association, with the addition of new shareholders such as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. He also proposed that EBS be boosted by supplying it with qualified technical cadres and suitable specializations.
He called for coordination and integration in issuing regulations and publications to accommodate banking operations and telecommunications network issues.
He emphasized the importance of activating the Unified Number Act of 2015 by using the national identification number for individuals (citizens) and setting establishment numbers to identify federal, state, and local government units, companies, partnerships, and the names of public and private businesses and institutions. He also advocated for using electronic payment gateways as a secure technological intermediary to facilitate payment acceptance.
The Sudanese monetary and financial expert has further affirmed the potential for these systems to accommodate diverse payment methods in the future, such as Visa, Mastercard, and digital wallets, quickly and securely, while maintaining top notch financial records.

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