(JUBA) – South Sudan has expressed support for a regional initiative to create a single communication area across East African Community (EAC) member states. The move aims to reduce the high cost of cross border calls and improve connectivity for citizens and businesses in the region.
The Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Michael Makuei Lueth, met this week in Juba with a delegation from the East African Communication Organization (EACO). The meeting focused on advancing the One Network Area initiative, which seeks to harmonise telecom charges and remove roaming fees for users moving or calling across borders.
The One Network Area is already in place among some countries in the region, but South Sudan’s full participation is seen as important due to growing trade and movement between Juba, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative is expected to reduce costs for phone users, especially traders, transporters, humanitarian workers, and cross-border families.
Speaking after the meeting, EACO Executive Director Caroline Koech said the One Network Area framework is designed to allow people in member states to communicate without facing high roaming bills. She said the organisation is working with national regulators and telecom operators to harmonise tariffs and ensure customers benefit from lower costs.
The discussions also covered technical concerns along border areas. According to the Ministry, South Sudan continues to experience issues such as frequency interference and unintended roaming, where subscribers are charged international rates when their devices connect to networks in neighbouring countries.
Officials noted that such issues increase costs for users and create uncertainty for mobile operators attempting to improve service networks. Both sides agreed that coordination among telecom regulators is necessary to address these cross border challenges.
South Sudan’s mobile sector continues to expand as more citizens gain access to mobile phones and data services. Improved cross border communication is expected to support trade and economic integration efforts under the East African Community framework.
Expected Consumer Benefits Under the One Network Plan
| Area of Impact | Expected Change |
|---|---|
| Voice Call Charges Across Borders | Reduced or removed roaming charges |
| Cost for Travelling Traders and Transporters | Lower communication expenses while moving across borders |
| Service Quality at Border Areas | Improved coordination to reduce network interference |
| Regional Business Transactions | Faster, cheaper communication for trade and logistics |
The Ministry emphasised that South Sudan is committed to cooperation within the region and sees telecommunications integration as an important step for economic growth and social exchange.
Further technical work and coordination meetings are expected in the coming months, involving telecom operators, national regulators and EACO representatives, according to a statement by the ICT Ministry.