(ABUYONG) – MTN South Sudan, in partnership with the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF), has launched a new network site in Abuyong, Lakes State. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to bring mobile and internet services to remote and rural areas that have long lacked basic connectivity.
The launch means that, for the first time, residents of Abuyong who have lived without mobile communication for years can now access mobile networks, internet services, and digital opportunities that were previously out of reach.
The development is expected to benefit families, students, businesses and the wider community by improving communication, enhancing education and creating opportunities for economic participation.
MTN South Sudan’s CEO, Mapula Bodibe, said the initiative is about more than just infrastructure.
“This is not just about building towers. It is about creating access to opportunities,” she stated.
She praised the partnership with USAF, which aims to deliver services to areas that have historically been left behind in South Sudan’s digital growth.
The Abuyong site is part of a broader commitment under MTN South Sudan’s renewed 1 -year operating licence. As part of this agreement, the company has pledged to extend network coverage to 90% of the national population.
According to MTN, the expansion has already begun, with a strong focus on community empowerment, digital inclusion and infrastructure investment as key components of its national development strategy.
Bringing network access to underserved regions like Abuyong is seen as a critical step in closing the digital divide and supporting South Sudan’s long term digital transformation.
Local residents, who previously struggled with communication, now have access to mobile phones and internet services that could improve livelihoods, education outcomes, and small-scale businesses.
The launch is also expected to encourage other mobile operators and stakeholders to invest in rural areas, helping to achieve broader national goals of equity and development through connectivity.
No investment figures were made public during the launch, but infrastructure investments of this kind are typically substantial.
