South Sudan has become the latest country to be connected to pan-African telecommunications group Liquid Telecom’s ambitious ‘One Africa’ broadband network.
The network, now approaching 70 000 km across 13 African countries and initially spanning from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt, will now open up connectivity for nearly 13-million citizens and thousands of businesses, government institutions and nongovernmental organisations as Liquid implements and operates South Sudan’s first fibre broadband network.
The first phase of the agreement signed between South Sudan’s National Communication Authority and Liquid Telecom will include a 300 km fibre backbone operating from the border with Uganda, through South Sudan, to Juba.
Phase 1 is expected to be completed before the end of 2019.
The network will be expanded to other cities in subsequent phases.
South Sudan will link to Liquid Telecom’s network across the region, which covers the East African Community, connecting the combined 300-million strong population of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
“This transformative infrastructure will ultimately create a foundation for digital growth, innovation and prosperity in this young country, while supporting the government of South Sudan’s positive economic growth forecast over the next ten years,” says Econet Global and Liquid Telecom executive chairperson Strive Masiyiwa.
“This modern information and communication technology infrastructure will help address the most pressing challenges within South Sudan, including the urgent need for peace and State building, job creation and improved livelihoods.”
“The implementation of this critical fibre infrastructure is a landmark step in the delivery of affordable communications access to the people of South Sudan, the business community, government and civil society,” adds South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
High-speed broadband brings many proven economic and social benefits – from providing access to online educational resources to creating more jobs and driving the adoption of new technologies.