By Philip Buda Ladu
The government of South Sudan is poised to significantly bolster its digital infrastructure, with plans to initiate the laying of its first-ever fibre optic network by September 2025.
This ambitious project, revealed by Telecommunication Undersecretary Lado Wani Kenyi at the conclusion of the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit on Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, is a crucial step towards the nation’s digital transformation and its integration into the global AI economy.
Kenyi announced that the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services has made substantial progress in the procurement process, having technically evaluated three companies for feasibility studies, commercial transaction modeling, and monitoring and evaluation.
The government is now awaiting a “no objection” from the World Bank, the potential funder of the project to proceed with negotiations with the top-ranked company.
“Hopefully, by August or September this year, 2025, we will be able to put the tender out for the big company that is going to lay the fiber down,” Kenyi stated in a statement to SSBC, highlighting the critical role of robust internet infrastructure in supporting AI development.
The summit, which brought together global leaders, policymakers, and tech innovators, underscored the importance of three key pillars for AI adoption: infrastructure, skills development, and data management.
Dr. Kenyi emphasized that without a strong foundation in these areas, South Sudan would struggle to leverage the benefits of AI.
“Without infrastructure, of course, artificial intelligence will not be possible, because they need really huge computing capacity and also fast internet for the data,” he explained.
Chol Joseph Mayen, Director for Research and Planning at the National Communication Authority (NCA), echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for strong regulations and legal frameworks to ensure the responsible use of AI.
He also highlighted the importance of education and skills development, urging the government to encourage young people, especially girls, to pursue careers in STEM fields.
“Education is very important to direct our students and our young people to study those fields of science that deal with artificial intelligence to help them shape the future of AI in South Sudan,” Mayen told state-run SSBC at the conclusion of the AI summit on Africa in Kigali.
The government is also focusing on building data centers to localize data and adapt AI applications to meet the country’s specific needs, particularly in agriculture, health, and fintech.
Abraham Kuot, founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JubaPay, who was in attendance of the AI Summit on Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, highlighted the potential of fintech to transform digital payments in South Sudan, where he noted that 70% of the population remains unbanked.
He called for collaboration with telecommunication companies to expand access to digital financial services.
The World Bank has indicated its readiness to support African countries, including South Sudan, through regional initiatives with a $3 million portfolio for the next five years. This financial backing is expected to play a crucial role in the nation’s digital transformation efforts.
Undersecretary Kenyi also mentioned the existence of South Sudanese working in the Fintech and AI sector in the East African community, demonstrating the potential of South Sudanese youth in the technology sector.
The government’s commitment to prioritizing youth and human resource development, coupled with the upcoming fiber optic infrastructure project, signals a significant step towards positioning South Sudan as a key player in the digital revolution.