Customers unhappy after MTN goes off-air in Aweil Centre

File photo: A network map of MTN coverage (MTN South Sudan website, 2015)

MTN mobile customers in Aweil Centre County in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State are upset with the lack of service in the area after the MTN network went off air recently.

MTN mobile customers in Aweil Centre County in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State are upset with the lack of service in the area after the MTN network went off air recently.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, several customers said were unable to reach relatives and friends since the loss of network coverage, pointing out that MTN was the only mobile network operating in the area.

 “We are currently cut off and all money transfer companies suspended their activities and now no one can talk with his or her relatives because Aroyo became a closed zone. We need network services to resume urgently so that we do things that benefit us,” said Mathiang Mayom, a resident of Aweil Centre County.

Another resident, Abu-Sapuin Musa said: “Lives of many people depend on the mobile network and now we are disconnected. Workers of MTN come every time to refuel the station but the network never resumed.”

Kur Amos, the MTN regional manager in Aweil, said the issue has been communicated to the company’s head office in Juba and efforts were underway to transport the needed spare part for the tower.

“We heard the complaints and there was a spare part brought from Juba but it is not the right one because it is very small. The Juba office said the right spare part spent three to four days in the airport and is supposed to reach here immediately.”