Highlights
The ETC is deploying a satellite internet connectivity kit to Ganyiel in order to provide internet to the humanitarian community there.
A mission to the humanitarian hub in Mingkaman is scheduled to commence on 04/06/14 to perform maintenance work on the internet connectivity kit provided by the ETC.
Cluster Responsibilities
- WFP is leading ETC activities in RoSS with responsibility for coordination, implementation and overall operational support for common ICT services.
Achievements
Following an assessment mission in late May, the ETC is deploying a satellite internet connectivity kit to Ganyiel in order to provide internet to the humanitarian community there. This is expected to improve coordination capacity of humanitarian organizations operating in Ganyiel.
The ETC continues to programme radios and allocate call signs to NGOs and UN Agencies in South Sudan. Last week, the ETC programmed radios for Care International, Plan International, UNFPA and WFP. This makes it easier for humanitarian workers to communicate and improves security in the field.
Currently, eight out of eight planned sites in South Sudan are being provided with ETC internet connectivity: Juba-3, Juba Tomping, Mingkaman Humanitarian Hub, Mingkaman Save the Children Compound, Nimule, Bentiu, Bor and Malakal. Following the extension of the Level-3 emergency, the ETC plans to service an additional five sites by the end of the year.
Challenges and Gaps
Although a ceasefire agreement was signed between government and opposition leaders on 09/05/14, fighting and high-levels of insecurity continue to be reported in Upper Nile State, causing further delays of the planned shipment of a new internet connectivity kit to Nassir. The unstable security situation has also put a planned assessment mission to Mayom on hold.
Procurement of telecommunications equipment continues to be challenging as lengthy import procedures and the volatile security situation frequently cause significant delays