JUBA—A South Sudanese lawyer has petitioned the National Communication Authority (NCA) to intervene over MTN South Sudan’s alleged deletion of unused data and voice bundles at midnight without rollover or compensation.
In a complaint received by the NCA on October 13, 2026, Advocate Peter Malou Jalap, through PM Jalap & Associates, urged the NCA to intervene, arguing that subscribers should not lose services they have already paid for.
“I bring this complaint in dual capacity as affected subscriber and Advocate on behalf of myself and the South Sudan public,” he says in his petition.
The complaint lists several MTN data packages, including 1GB daily, 2GB nightly, 3GB for three hours and 7GB weekly, alongside Huraya voice bundles of eight, 30 and 100 minutes that expire at midnight.
Jalap argues that customers lose unused data and minutes when their bundles expire, without compensation or an option to carry the remaining balance forward.
“No roll-over, no compensation, no prior business warning,” the petition states.
The lawyer also alleges that network interruptions sometimes prevent subscribers from using their purchased bundles before they expire, particularly in Cueibet County.
“Sometimes after a subscriber has purchased voice & data bundles, MTN switches off its network, robbing subscribers the opportunities to utilize what they bought. By the time the network comes back, all data & voice bundles are deleted by the same MTN,” the petition further stated.
“This happens mostly to Cueibet County residents,” it adds.
The allegations that MTN switches off its network have not been independently verified. MTN South Sudan did not immediately respond to the claims.
Jalap argues that the alleged practice violates South Sudan’s Consumer Protection Act, 2011, and the National Communication Act, 2012. Citing Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Consumer Protection Act. The petition says consumers are entitled to fair and reasonable terms and value for their money.
It also cites Section 17(b) of the National Communication Act, which states that telecommunications providers are required to ensure service quality.
The lawyer is asking the NCA to declare the expiry of unused data unfair when a subscriber’s SIM card remains active. He also wants the NCA to require MTN, Zain and Digitel to introduce automatic rollover of unused data upon recharge without additional charges.
The proposed measures include allowing subscribers to transfer unused bundles to other customers on the same network and requiring telecom companies to send usage alerts when customers have consumed 50, 80 and 100 per cent of their bundles.
To support his argument, Jalap cites South Africa, where he says the Independent Communications Authority directed MTN South Africa, Vodacom and Cell C to allow at least one automatic rollover of unused data, voice and SMS bundles after expiry, provided the subscriber’s SIM card remains active.
He said that similar consumer protections should be considered in South Sudan.
The petition also describes internet access as essential for education and business. Jalap says that the deletion of unused bundles limits subscribers’ ability to benefit from services they have purchased.
“Mr. Director General, we all understand that internet is a basic necessity for education and business. Also communication is a right. All these are now limited by MTN deletion of data & voice bundles,” he notes.
Jalap further invokes Article 34 of South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution, 2011, as amended, arguing that consumers are entitled to protection against harmful goods and practices.
The complaint also cites Sections 97–99 of the National Communication Act, which Jalap says empower the NCA to settle disputes between licensed telecommunications companies and consumers.
He has requested a response within seven days of the complaint’s receipt.
