A new local telecom operator, Digitel, is shaking up South Sudan’s mobile market long dominated by MTN and Zain. With bold infrastructure investments and locally focused strategies, the 2021 startup is proving that homegrown innovation can challenge multinational dominance in one of the world’s least connected countries.
South Sudan’s telecommunications landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution. Once controlled entirely by foreign companies, the sector is witnessing a shift as local operator Digitel gains traction among subscribers and investors alike. Founded in 2021 by De Chan Awuol, the company is emerging as a serious contender in a market where MTN and Zain have long held sway.
From its modest base in Juba, Digitel is expanding aggressively building its own network infrastructure, launching affordable data plans, and even conducting South Sudan’s first 5G pilot in 2024 in partnership with Chinese firm ZTE. The trial, carried out in Juba’s Hai Neem district, achieved download speeds of 1.2 Gbps, signaling the country’s first step toward next-generation connectivity.
Digitel’s approach is rooted in understanding local realities. The company offers handsets with extended battery life to counter unreliable electricity and prices its data bundles for a market where over 80 percent of the population remains offline. To cut operational costs, it is investing in its own towers and backhaul systems, reducing dependence on leased infrastructure.
By late 2024, MTN controlled more than 60 percent of South Sudan’s mobile subscriptions, while Zain maintained a smaller but stable share. Yet internal tallies suggest Digitel’s subscriber growth outpaced both competitors in several urban corridors in early 2025. Market projections by Mordor Intelligence indicate that South Sudan’s telecom industry will expand from $134 million in 2025 to $176 million by 2030, with user numbers growing from 3.76 million to 4.5 million. Digitel’s early momentum positions it to capture a growing share of that market.
Despite its promise, the company faces an uphill climb. The ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan has disrupted oil exports South Sudan’s main revenue source leading to a sharp currency depreciation that inflates equipment import costs. Insecurity in certain regions has also delayed tower installations and complicated logistics. Yet industry analysts say telecom networks often endure even amid instability. “Telecom companies should be quite familiar with war,” notes Nzioka Waita, Africa director at the Tony Blair Institute, pointing to Somalia and Ethiopia as examples of resilience during unrest.
Digitel’s network currently spans Juba, Wau, and Malakal, with pilot projects for solar-powered towers aimed at connecting rural areas. The company’s long-term plan includes launching mobile money services and enterprise connectivity tools. Its leadership team including CTO Paul Onek and COO Wilson Kyumba brings experience from regional telecom deployments, while its recruitment of local engineers highlights a commitment to building domestic technical capacity.
Government reaction has been mixed. While the Ministry of Information hailed the 5G trial as a “gateway to unprecedented opportunities,” questions remain over regulatory consistency and tax incentives granted to the company. Critics warn these could distort competition, but supporters argue they are essential for nurturing indigenous innovation.
Digitel’s rise signals a turning point for South Sudan a step toward local empowerment in a sector long dominated by foreign interests. Whether it can sustain its expansion amid economic volatility and regulatory uncertainty remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Digitel has redefined who gets to build South Sudan’s digital future.