Nagero County in Western Equatoria State was on Wednesday reconnected to the World through Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Telecommunications Company which had ceased operations in the county due to the conflict in the country.
MTN ceased operations in Nagero County in 2017 when the fighting between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces peaked in the area.
Many Nagero residents sounded out by Radio Tamazuj expressed happiness with the resumption of MTN services.
Martin Solomon Peter said he was able now to reach other people across the country and the world but said the network did not cover some areas.
“It is not fully operational because there are e specific locations where we go to look for the network but this is just the beginning and maybe things will be better because it is only the antenna of Zomoi working,” he said. “I am appealing that it should be fully operational because we have been isolated for so long.”
Another resident, Alphone Yiviso, said the network connects the people to the world and appealed to the local authorities to secure the telecommunications infrastructure.
“You know this network is the only thing that connects us the young people with the world,” he said. “We are begging our government to make sure they connect the whole South Sudan with radios so that information can reach all the counties.”
Meanwhile, the commissioner of Nagero County, Gabriel Nvolo, said the county authorities initiated the resumption of MTN services in the area by contacting the firms’ manager in Wau.
“The issue of the network started when we agreed with MTN in Western Bahr El Ghazal and they came and conducted assessment up to the border with Tambura,” he said. “As we are talking, I am using the network in Zomoi which they repaired.”
Efforts to reach MTN were futile.
The MTN network in Nagero County covers about 24 miles (38.4 km) and does not reach Namatina and Nagero Payams.