Telecommunication companies in South Sudan have hiked tariffs on mobile airtime and internet services due to ongoing fluctuations in the exchange rate. This decision has led to a significant rise in costs for consumers, who were notified about the adjustment via various communication channels, according to statements from the telcos.
The recent phase of price adjustments has seen operators increase the cost of internet and mobile subscriptions by an additional 600 South Sudanese pounds (SSP). As a result, subscribers now pay SSP1,565 for 100MB of data with Zain, SSP1,790 with MTN, and SSP1,835 with Digitel, compared to the previous rate of SSP900.
The sharp increase in telecommunications costs has not gone unnoticed by South Sudanese lawmakers. The country’s parliament is expected to address the issue once a report from a nine-member committee investigating alleged malpractices within the telecom sector is submitted. This investigation was initiated in August 2024 after a motion by SPLM-IO legislator Juol Nhomngek, who raised concerns about alleged illegal activities within MTN South Sudan and its contractors. According to the motion, employees from MTN South Sudan and ZTE Corporation, a partially state-owned Chinese firm, were accused of demanding illegal payments, including $50,000 and 10% of subcontractor contracts in exchange for awarding work.
The rising telecommunications costs are seen as having a negative impact on the socio-economic well-being of South Sudan’s population, making communication services less affordable. Social media users have also expressed frustration with the situation, adding pressure on the government to address the concerns raised by the public.
Telcos have defended the tariff hikes, stating that the adjustments were necessary to keep up with currency fluctuations and to fund investments in technology, network infrastructure, and improved customer service. This is not the first price adjustment—telecom companies have been making periodic increases since September 2022 due to economic instability.
As a result of the recent tariff hikes, South Sudan now has the most expensive internet service in East Africa and the second highest on the continent, with an average retail price of $2 per gigabyte of bandwidth. The cost of staying connected in the country continues to climb, adding to the financial burdens already facing many South Sudanese citizens amidst ongoing economic challenges.
