South Sudanese will pay more to make phone calls, send text messages and access mobile internet after the National Communication Authority (NCA) approved the second phase of a telecommunications tariff exchange rate adjustment, which took effect at midnight on Sunday.
The adjustment, implemented by Digitel South Sudan, MTN South Sudan and Zain South Sudan, comes as households and businesses grapple with one of the country’s worst economic crises, marked by soaring inflation, a weakening South Sudanese Pound (SSP), rising fuel prices and the escalating cost of basic goods and services.
In a joint statement, the three mobile network operators said the measure was approved following consultations involving the NCA, government institutions, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.
The operators said the adjustment was necessary to offset mounting operational costs driven by inflation, higher energy prices, depreciation of the SSP, limited access to foreign currency for maintaining telecommunications infrastructure, and continued investment in modern network technologies.
They stressed that the move should not be viewed as a direct increase in telecommunications tariffs, but rather an adjustment to the exchange rate used in calculating service charges to reflect prevailing economic conditions.
“The underlying telecommunications tariffs remain unchanged,” the statement said. “The adjustment aligns the tariff exchange rate with prevailing economic conditions and supports the continued delivery of reliable telecommunications services across South Sudan.”
The NCA said it had directed operators to absorb a significant share of inflationary pressures, adding that the approved adjustment had been kept to the minimum necessary to ensure the sustainability of the telecommunications sector while protecting consumer interests.
Despite those assurances, the latest adjustment is expected to place additional pressure on millions of South Sudanese already struggling with shrinking incomes and the rising cost of living.
Mobile phone services have become an essential means of communication, banking, business and access to information, making any increase in effective service costs immediately felt by households and small businesses.
South Sudan continues to face a severe economic downturn, with persistent currency depreciation, high inflation and reduced purchasing power eroding living standards.
For many citizens, the higher cost of staying connected adds to an already growing financial burden.
