Patchy network coverage slows digital public infrastructure uptake in South Sudan

JUBA — Uneven mobile and internet coverage across South Sudan is limiting access to digital public infrastructure (DPI), disrupting digital trade, money transfers and access to basic online services, traders and officials say.

Telecommunications networks are available in several states and major towns, but coverage remains partial, reaching only some counties while leaving others completely offline.

In remote areas, weak signals, frequent outages and high data costs mean residents can go days without internet access.

In Jonglei State, traders say the gaps are particularly acute. In Ayod County, one of the most isolated parts of the state, residents often access the internet only once every two or three days, when a signal becomes briefly available or when they travel to areas with coverage.

“When the network disappears, business stops,” said Michael Kuol Machar, a trader in Ayod who relies on mobile money to receive payments from customers in Bor and Juba. “Sometimes you wait two days to confirm a transfer. Prices change, goods are delayed, and customers lose trust.”

Other traders said they depend on digital transfers to buy supplies, pay transporters or receive support from relatives, but the unreliable network forces them back to cash-based transactions, increasing risks of theft and loss.

“Digital trade is supposed to make things easier,” said a small-scale merchant operating between Jonglei and Central Equatoria. “But if the internet is only working today and gone tomorrow, you cannot plan. You cannot even check if money has arrived.”

High internet costs compound the problem. In counties with limited coverage, residents often spend a disproportionate share of their income on data bundles that deliver slow or inconsistent service, making regular online access unaffordable for many households.

The lack of reliable connectivity undermines broader DPI ambitions, including digital payments, online public services, data-driven governance and access to information.

Analysts say without stable and affordable connectivity, digital systems risk deepening inequality between connected urban centres and underserved rural communities.

Jonglei State’s information minister Nyamar Lony Thichot Ngundeng acknowledged the challenges, saying large parts of the state remain poorly served by telecommunications providers.

“The government is aware of the network and internet gaps, especially in counties like Ayod,” she said. “We are working with relevant stakeholders to expand network coverage and improve internet access across the state.”

She added that improving connectivity was essential for service delivery, communication and economic activity, but did not give a timeline for when expanded coverage would reach the most remote counties.

South Sudan has invested in digital initiatives in recent years, including mobile money and online platforms, but progress remains uneven.

For traders and residents in poorly connected areas, the promise of DPI remains distant, dependent on whether a signal appears — and how long it lasts.

This story is part of a series on digital public infrastructure in South Sudan.