Contributing to the USAF

The current licensing policy stipulates that “communications licensees are obliged to contribute a 2% statutory levy from their annual gross revenue” which is the licensees’ contribution to developing communications services in the rural, underserved and unserved areas of South Sudan.

 The money is set aside to assist those operators willing to serve high cost, and challenging rural areas. Thus the Fund, in net effect, re-distributes a small amount of finance from those who would rather not be saddled with the responsibility of serving difficult areas to those willing and eager to do so, and applying the funds to those service providers with good motivation and willingness to leverage further investment is a key advantage of the Fund model. The rural market is then developed by those who want to do so, to the benefit of all.

 This is a ‘win-win’ arrangement, since all service providers benefit from long-term market growth by paying rather a small amount, those wanting to serve rural areas get an opportunity to receive financial help, and both the service providers and the consumers benefit from additional network coverage in terms of increased revenue, access and usage of the services.

The Fund will on periodic basis develop strategic plans, which will guide the development and implementation of specific projects to assist in provision of communications services throughout South Sudan. The strategic plan will be guided by general national policies and plans, as well as specific communications sector policies.