A European Union-backed project to power telecom towers with solar energy has improved mobile network reliability across South Sudan, although cheaper phone and internet services for consumers are not guaranteed, officials and analysts say.
The European Union supported a five-million-euro initiative to convert more than 500 telecom sites operated by MTN South Sudan from diesel generators to hybrid solar and battery systems.
The shift has helped reduce outages linked to fuel shortages and difficult road access while lowering operating costs for the company.
“Our network availability was really struggling before this project,” said MTN Chief Technical Officer Brian Karuhanga. “Fuel shortages, generator failures, and limited grid power meant sites could be offline for extended periods.”
Karuhanga said the company has converted about 99 percent of its sites to hybrid energy systems, cutting diesel reliance from full dependence to roughly half and raising network availability from 97 percent to about 99.4 percent.
Solar systems also reduce emissions and help keep towers running in remote areas where electricity infrastructure is scarce.
South Sudan’s national power grid reaches only about 19 percent of the country, forcing telecom operators to transport large volumes of diesel fuel to remote tower sites — sometimes over poor roads that can take days to navigate.
Pelle Enarsson, the EU ambassador, said the bloc chose to support energy infrastructure rather than telecom services directly, arguing that private companies are better placed to deliver connectivity.
“In the end, this should reduce consumer prices,” Enarsson said. “But that also depends on competition. If there is a monopoly, it will be different.”
Industry observers say operational savings do not automatically lead to lower consumer tariffs.
Eng. Khoi-Khoi, a telecom analyst, said mobile pricing is influenced by a range of factors beyond operating costs, including network expansion, equipment imports, regulatory fees, security conditions, and market demand.
“Price reductions are not immediate,” he explained. “Operators consider many factors before adjusting tariffs, and in many cases, pricing adjustments are guided by regulators to ensure fairness across the market.”
In South Sudan, the telecommunications sector is overseen by the National Communication Authority, which regulates licensing, competition, and tariff oversight.
Residents say the improved infrastructure has made services more reliable, though affordability remains a concern.
“The network is more stable now,” said Jacob Mawa, a resident of Gudele in Juba. “But data is still expensive for many people.”
As South Sudan seeks to rebuild its economy and expand digital connectivity, solar-powered telecom infrastructure is increasingly seen as a way to maintain services in areas with little or no electricity. Whether the improvements will translate into lower costs for users, however, remains uncertain.