By William Madouk Garang
The National Communication Authority (NCA) and a Sudanese telecommunication and internet provider – Sudatel have agreed to lay fibre optics cable from Sudan to connect Bentiu and Mayom County of Unity State.
Fiber optic cables are designed for long-distance, high-performance data networking and telecommunications, it aims to provide internet users with high speed and cheap internet costs.
This plan was revealed on Wednesday during a meeting between the governor of Unity State, Joseph Manytuil with delegation of NCA led by Assistant Director of States Affairs – James Majur Mayen and its partner Sudatel.
Addressing media after the meeting, Mr. Mayen stated that they have briefed the governor on the fibre optics cable and assessment of the cable line to be installed in Bentiu up to Mayom County.
“We come to meet the governor of Unity State, Dr. Joseph Manytuil Wejang, we are here with our partner – Sudanese operators or ‘Sudatel’ to come and embark on fibre optics,” Mayen said.
“We are actually trying to make the services accessible and affordable to our citizens by bringing fibre optics to some border states,” he continued.
Mayen further said governor Manytuil appreciated the Minister of Information and Director-General of NCA for working tirelessly to bring services closer to citizens, he also asserted that the governor also assured them of support.
“The honorable governor gave us assurance that he will stand with us and help Sudatel Company and National Communication Authority,”
The aim of the visit was to brief Governor Manytuil on the issue of fibre optics cable installed by Sudanese company Sudatel in Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area.
On September 2022, the government of South Sudan and Djibouti signed an agreement to install fibre optics cable from Djibouti through Ethiopia to the capital Juba.
According to the national Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth, the two countries will now form a technical team to deliberate on the project going forward.
Djibouti fibre optics is not the first infrastructure South Sudan is connecting to. In January 2020, broadband connectivity provider Liquid Intelligent Technologies announced the effective installation of a 200KM fibre backbone connecting the Ugandan border to Juba, Via Nimule.
This interconnection was complemented by several metropolitan nodes in the capital.