Does our Telecommunications system have national interest at its core values?

By Ateny Wek Ateny

Telecommunications systems all over the world are government bodies entrusted with duty to regulate, TV, Radio, Telephone networks, social media, and internet among others. It is always a government department that does this role— hence, the reason of having the Ministry of Information, Telecommunications and Postal Services. In conjunction with, that ministry works with National Communications Authority (NCA), in regulating the above-mentioned services for the people.

It is not about empowering telephone networks detrimental to the innocent population. The regulatory body in the name of the Ministry of Information, Telecommunications, & Postal service and National Telecommunications Authority should public interest driven. It shouldn’t do the opposite.

However, I am not sure, if our government departments that should be regulating telecommunications systems are really doing this regulation— taking into account the consumer right to protection. I think both Ministry and the NCA do not care of what is happening in the area of consumer protection. If, any, I think they only levy taxes and the rest is left to consumers on the bases of take-it-or-leave-it.

The recent increases in internet services as well as on direct calls is meant to return people to Stone Age. Otherwise, how come the telecommunications service providers like MTN, Zain and Digital are slaughtering the consumers at whim? I never knew we have the most expensive telephone service in the world until I got to know about the recent increases. 10,000 SSP is equivalent to $2.2 US dollars that can buy an unlimited local calls unit anywhere.

Notwithstanding, in South Sudan 10,000 SSP can barely makes 7 local calls to different 7 people. On internet, the same amount can’t last for 24 hrs. No more offers of free local calls for promotion in any telephone network in South Sudan.

So, is this a ploy to make youth unable to afford internet services, or the exploitation is taking its toll? South Sudanese are already one of the poorest humans on earth, in spite of being naturally rich. Majority of those who use internet services are young men/women and they spend their times on internet in an attempt to avoid thinking of hunger and other bad things attached to it. Why making the internet exceedingly unaffordable?

Finally, I am making this appeal to the Ministry of Information, Telecommunications & Postal Service as well as National Communications Authority to revise the tariff imposed on telecommunications and find what is appropriate to be levied from consumer. Otherwise, the telephone networks subscription are unreasonably milking the consumer.

The writer is the former Press Secretary in the Office of the President and the views expressed in this article are his own. He can be reached by email: atenypiokerwek@gmail.com