South Sudan joins East Africa’s one network phone system

November 10, 2015 (JUBA) – Mobile phone subscribers in South Sudan can now use their local sim cards in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda without acquiring new cards, an official said.

“You don’t need to remove your local card when you are visiting Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda”, said the telecommunications minister, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci.

“Today from here you can call Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda using your local sim card and you will be paying the same cost that you are paying when you are in Juba. The one network area is now operational between South Sudan and the three East African countries”, she added.

According to the minister, those using their South Sudanese numbers in these countriez would not incurr costs as rates would not change for Viva Cell, Gemtel, Zain and MTN.

The minister had just returned from the Rwandan capital, Kigali, after attending the just concluded Transform Africa Summit under the theme: ‘Accelerating digital innovation’.

According the South Sudanese telecommunications minister, the one network area, was a directive of the 5th Heads of State Summit held in Kenya in May 2014. Another summit held in Rwanda in July reportedly expressed satisfaction with progress as line ministries were directed to ensure immediate implementation of one network system in the region.

(ST)