Persistent Telecom Disruptions Reported by South Sudan Officials in Ruweng and Upper Nile Regions
Unreliable Telecommunications Services Plague Ruweng and Upper Nile States in South Sudan
Residents of Ruweng and Upper Nile states in South Sudan are grappling with significant issues in their telecommunications networks, according to reports from local ministers.
The states' telecommunications networks, primarily provided by MTN and Zain, have been reported to be unreliable, with frequent service disruptions lasting for 2 to 3 days at a time. Minister James Monylual Majok of Ruweng and Minister Peter Ngwojo Akwiny of Upper Nile have both voiced their concerns about the poor quality of service.
Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, has also received reports regarding the state of communication services in the two states. The reports highlight widespread flooding in Ruweng, which has caused extensive damage to crops and agricultural land, and a severe shortage of goods in the Malakal market, requiring urgent intervention.
The causes of these network issues are multifaceted. Conflict-related disruptions, such as those seen in Sudan where networks like Zain and MTN went offline nationwide during conflict, might be contributing factors in South Sudan. While direct conflict effects have not been specified in the reports, regional instability often leads to infrastructure damage and service interruptions.
Infrastructure challenges also play a significant role in the unreliability of the networks. Despite efforts by MTN to expand broadband access in rural South Sudan through a partnership with satellite provider Intelsat, and Zain's digital transformation projects to upgrade their network capabilities, these improvements have not yet effectively addressed the connectivity gaps in Ruweng and Upper Nile.
Furthermore, the limited penetration and service quality of these providers in the region are also contributing factors. Despite Zain having around 900,000 customers in South Sudan, the network coverage and quality remain inconsistent, with reports specifically stating "completely poor" telecommunications service from these providers in Ruweng and Upper Nile.
In light of these issues, Minister Ngwojo Akwiny of Upper Nile has proposed engaging with Digitel Network to explore opportunities for improving communication infrastructure in the region. The unreliability of the current telecommunications networks is causing significant challenges for residents of Ruweng and Upper Nile, and efforts are being made to address these issues and improve connectivity in the region.
- The poor quality of telecommunications services in Ruweng and Upper Nile states, as provided by MTN and Zain, is causing significant challenges for residents, who are seeking alternative solutions such as engaging with Digitel Network for potential infrastructure improvements.
- The Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services in South Sudan is aware of the unreliable telecoms networks in Ruweng and Upper Nile states, which have been affected by both conflict-related disruptions and infrastructure challenges.
- The technology sector, with initiatives like MTN's partnership with Intelsat and Zain's digital transformation projects, aims to address communication gaps in rural South Sudan, but these efforts have not yet effectively mitigated the connectivity issues in Ruweng and Upper Nile.
