By Manas James
Zain Telecommunication Company has started operations for the first time in Gadiang, a town at the northern outskirts of Jonglei State’s Duk County.
A ceremony was held to commission the telephone network in the town on Monday.
Speaking to the media, Napoleon Qadok Gai, the director-general of the National Communication Authority (NCA), said they established the network to bring services closure to the people.
“We came to commission a network perhaps the network which took us the longest time to build, exactly two years and 3 months since we started,” he said.
“The need for this network is urgent to support the community which is isolated due to the flooding.”
The official said the network was also necessary to facilitate the ongoing construction of a Highway that would link major towns in Upper Nile region.
Mr. Wilson Lado, Zain’s chief technology officer, said they will continue partnering with the government to have the country connected with communication network.
“This work is a joint work between us, as Zain and National Communication Authority,” he noted.
“Now, the service is here. I want to say that people in Gadiang can talk their loved ones in Juba, and outside the country. They can talk to their children every where and this is something great. We ate looking forward. We will not stop here as I said.”
Duk County commissioner, Peter Latjor Chuol, said the telecommunication network came as a relief.
“Gadiang is a day walk from the county headquarters. Those days somebody had to be sent if there was a message to be communicated. Now, we are happy that we will be able to deliver services effectively. This will really help us bring peace to our people,” he said.