South Sudan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Sudan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW" data-rapid_p="7" data-v9y="1">https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Sudan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
As a result, the number of lines in service has fallen dramatically, with little incentive to invest in fixed-line infrastructure. Such investment as there is tends to go to upgrading mobile networks.

The landlocked country depends on its neighbours for transit connections to international submarine fibre cables. Two of these countries have direct access to such cables: Sudan and Kenya. Another option is to connect via Ethiopia to cables landing in Djibouti. Kenya, which is connected to the EASSy, Seacom, TEAMS, and LION cables, offered South Sudan access to its landing stations in 2012, and has extended a fibre link to the border. An alternative route via Uganda was also considered: a consortium including Sudatel and the incumbent telcos of Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, worked on a plan for a fibre route following the Nile River but this was put on hold by the civil war.

In early 2015 the governments of Kenya and South Sudan agreed to construct a fibre link from Eldoret (Kenya) to Juba. Kenya laid 630km of cable from Eldoret to the border at Nakadok, while South Sudan was responsible for the link to Juba and on to other parts of the country. The project was completed at the end of 2021, and formed part of Kenya’s National Fibre Optic Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI), as also the Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade, and Development Facilitation Project. The World Bank contributed $25.5 million for the new cable.

Key developments:

Zain, VivaCell (Network of the World, NOW), MTN Group, Gemtel Green Network (G Telecom, LAP Green), Sudatel, Sudani, Canar Telecom (Canartel, Etisalat), fastNet, RCS Communication, iBurst, Thuraya, Yahsat, O3b Networks, Fujairah Media Group (FMG), Equity Bank