South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardiit on Monday launched the first-ever locally-owned mobile telecom company.
The Digitel Network, the third in the country, plans to connect the network to previously unserved areas in the country.
Speaking during the launch, President Salva Kiir assured the company that his government will give tax exemptions to the company.
“The government will explore options including tax exemptions that will benefit importation of network equipment and the telecommunications tools. This equipment will help increase digital literacy programs for our next generation ICT driven economy,” President Kiir asserted.
Kiir added that he wants to see South Sudan catching up with the rest of the world despite the digital divide.
The Digitel Mobile Operator is fully owned by South Sudanese investors.
Athiei De Chan Awuol, the company's vice president pledged that his company is committed to delivering digital services across South Sudan.
“For four years, Digitel has been a work in progress. Ladies and gentlemen, for us to launch our telecom services and products at the 10 years of our independence shows that South Sudanese can contribute to a brighter future for themselves and their children,” he said.
For his part, Michael Makuei Lueth, the information minister, expressed his pride saying the new operator is a national company.
”We are proud that today we are launching the first South Sudanese operator and the first South Sudanese digital holding. It is really an honor because, without these services, there will be no progress,” he said.
Digitel joins South Africa’s MTN and Kuwait’s Zain in the South Sudan telecom market. Lebanese Vivacell was closed by the government in 2016 over alleged unpaid arrears.