23 August 2019

Phase one of the agreement will include a 300km fibre backbone operating from the border of Uganda, through South Sudan, to Juba

Pan-African business Liquid Telecom will implement and operate South Sudan’s first fibre broadband network, connecting the country to the “One Africa” broadband network, which is approaching 70,000km across 13 African countries and to the rest of the world.

Phase one of the agreement, signed between National Communication Authority and Liquid Telecom, will include a 300km fibre backbone operating from the border of Uganda, through South Sudan, to Juba.

Multiple metro clusters will also support the capital city. This first phase is scheduled to go live in the last quarter of this year. The network will be expanded to other cities in subsequent phases.

South Sudan will link to Liquid’s network across the region which covers the East African Community, a regional intergovernmental organisation of six partner states; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. It is thought the network will connect up to 300 million people. 

“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,” said Salva Kiir Mayardit, president of South Sudan. “By connecting South Sudan to the global internet, this important infrastructure development will help improve social mobility, enable economic diversification and drive inclusive private sector-led growth and productive employment.” He said the agreement was also ideally timed, coinciding with the signing of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.

Strive Masiyiwa, executive chairman of Econet Global and Liquid Telecom added: “This modern ICT 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. South Sudan’s 13 million citizens will be connected to 300 million people across the East African Community. Connecting South Sudan to the ‘One Africa’ broadband network will also champion pan-Africa trade and help build Africa’s digital future.”

With phase one due to be completed before the end of 2019, Liquid’s network will eventually provide reliable and affordable internet connectivity for nearly 13 million citizens of South Sudan, as well as for businesses, government institutions and non-governmental organisations.