ICT Minister Hails MTN Network Launch in Awerial

(AWERIAL) – South Sudan’s national Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Michael Makuei Lueth, officially launched an MTN mobile network service in Abuyong Payam, Awerial County of Lakes State, on 6 July 2025.

The new service is part of efforts to improve government communication, economic activity and access to services at the grassroots level.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Makuei said the network will help ease the transfer of money from the capital Juba to the states, while also supporting the delivery of health and education services in remote areas of Lakes State. He added that mobile connectivity is essential to modern development and governance.

The project was made possible through a partnership between the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) and MTN South Sudan. It forms part of a larger government programme to extend communication infrastructure across underserved regions of the country.

The Ministry announced that similar projects are planned for Cueibet County and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area once the rainy season ends. These future installations are also expected to help with local security efforts by improving communication between authorities and communities.

While the launch was welcomed by the local population, the Minister of Information in Lakes State, who represented Governor Rin Tueny Mabor at the event, expressed concern about the limited network coverage. He noted that the current signal range only extends about five kilometres, which limits its effectiveness in reaching more remote villages.

In response, Mabe Emmanuel, Secretary General of USAF, assured the public that plans are already in place to strengthen the signal by upgrading tower equipment. He said the aim is to ensure broader and more reliable coverage for rural users.

MTN South Sudan Chief Executive Officer Mapula Bodibe also attended the event and pledged to continue working closely with the government to improve service delivery.

She confirmed MTN’s commitment to ensuring an uninterrupted network supply and to reaching communities that are not yet connected.

She also emphasised the company’s shared vision with the government to “move towns to the rural areas” by bringing essential communication infrastructure closer to remote populations.