[kictanet] Country Code +211/South Sudan Goes Live

Mon Oct 3 10:25:09 EAT 2011

Dear Dr Ochuodho,
Thanks for the update.   I'm particularly keen to know what will become of
networks owned by operators who rolled out nationwide before S Sudan's
independence i.e. those that have infrastructure in both the North and
South.    Will those with infrastructure in the South be issued with new
licences as new entities?  I gather MTN and Zain have some infrastructure in
the South.
Rgds
Francis Hook

On 2 October 2011 23:50, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho at yahoo.com> wrote:

> The country code "+211" (Republic of South Sudan) went live yesterday, 1st
> October, 2011, 2 months ahead of the set deadline for switchover, 15th
> December.
>
> Below was the speech of the Chief Guest - Hon. Minister for Telecom &
> Postal Services.
>
> Rgrds,
> Shem
>
> Shem J. Ochuodho, MSc (Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon)
> Senior Advisor
> Ministry of Telecom & Postal Services
> Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Juba
> Commonwealth Telecom Organization (CTO/RSS) 2010 African Internaut Award
> Recipient
> Kenya Community Abroad (KCA) 2007 Excellence Award Winner
> AfricaOnline 2005 Industry Pioneer Award Recipient
> Father of Internet in Kenya (Computer Society of Kenya - CSK 2000)
> Cell: +211-977-232025/+249-955-021-040/+254-725-016679
> Skype: shem.ochuodho
>
> ------ begin ------
>
> *TALKING POINTS BY HON. MAJ. GEN. MADUT BIAR YEL, MINISTER FOR
> TELECOMMUNICATIONS & POSTAL SERVICES, RSS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE NEW
> COUNTRY CODE LAUNCH BY GEMTEL, QUALITY HOTEL, JUBA, 1ST OCTOBER, 2011*
>
> Hon. Ministers of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) here present
>
> Hon. Members of Parliament
>
> The Managing Director & CEO, GEMTEL Green Network, Mr. Gadafi,
>
> Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen:
>
> I am most elated to be with you here today in making history at this
> auspicious occasion as we launch our sole and exclusive country code for the
> Republic of South Sudan (RSS), “+211”.  Am delighted to note that the
> network suitably branded ‘*The Roots of South Sudan*’ is once more living
> up to expectation by being the first network to implement, test and launch
> this new country code. I am equally thrilled to note that close on the
> heels, at least one other telecom operator will also be doing the same
> within a week from now! Just like a national flag, the country-code is a
> national monument that will live with many generations to come in the
> future. It is no doubt one of the strongest symbols of our sovereignty,
> freedom and independence, and the full recognition by the whole world of
> South Sudan as a Full Member of the Community of Nations.
>
> Ø  The historic signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005
> heralded a new beginning in South Sudan. While on the whole this milestone
> enabled us to reap peace dividends including the experience of this unique
> event, the opportunities created also brought about implementation pressures
> and challenges. On formation of government, we committed ourselves to providing
> basic services to the people, such as clean water, reasonable housing,
> healthcare, education, good roads, efficient transport, security, and
> equally important too, modern telecommunications and postal services. That
> today even in some of the very remotest villages of South Sudan you can make
> a phone call is itself a clear testimony that with the continued cooperation
> and partnership of all major actors, including the private sector, even the
> said challenges can be overcome as today attests.
>
> Ø  As the dynamics of the global and regional economies evolve,
> information and communication has become an indispensible pillar for
> competitiveness as well as a growth-engine. South Sudan has to play catch-up
> with the global trends, and today marks a major milestone. Recognizing the
> importance of communications & ICTs in socio-economic development, wealth
> generation, job creation, poverty alleviation, and citizen’s access to
> government services, the Government promptly issued policy and regulatory
> guidelines to stimulate sector growth. It is our declared policy to promote
> investment, private sector development, and to espouse partnerships
> (including public-private-people-partnerships) that are recognized as
> important elements in meeting the millennium development goals (MDGs). This
> is part of why from day one, we decided that private enterprise was the way
> to go for our telecommunications sector, hence the five licensed operators.
>
> Ø  In anticipation of a positive referendum vote, the Government tasked me
> to travel to Guadalajara, Mexico to to meet the Secretary General of the
> International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and also to attend the meeting
> of its highest decision-making body (Plenipotentiary), which convenes every
> four years. The Secretary-General, himself an African (heading this oldest
> UN Agency for the first time since inception in 1865) assured me that should
> the People of South Sudan vote for separation, he would issue the country
> code within 48 hours (i.e. two days). In fact, when this happened, he long
> beat the self-set deadline; he instead issued the country code within *2
> hours* of the UN General Assembly recognition of South Sudan. The ITU also
> was one of the VERY first organizations to congratulate our President and
> the People of South Sudan.  To deepen our friendship further, I am pleased
> to inform my countrymen and women, and indeed our friends here present that
> yesterday, a very high-powered delegation from the ITU ended a 3-day visit
> to South Sudan – yet another historic visit as we join the Global Community.
>
> Ø  The one question most people ask me these days is “*When are we going
> to use our country code?*”. To ease the pressure on our engineers and
> ensure the new code is implemented with razor-precision, I ensured the
> public that the country code will become operational by *15th December*.
> Indeed, that is the absolute deadline I gave to the operators also. I am
> much delighted that the Green Network has broken that set record by leaps
> and bounds. It is now incumbent upon each and every one of us to inform our
> friends and allies of the transition to our new country code. You will
> recall that we now have a very easy, and lucky number ‘211’; don’t forget
> the *1st* month of the year 2011 was when South Sudanese voted decisively
> for separation! And today we launch also the new code on *first* day of
> the month. I want to request all of us here present today to give a hearty
> clap to ITU for having favoured us with our number of choice. Few nations
> enjoyed this privilege!
>
> Ø  In the same vein, join me in congratulating Gemtel for once more
> leading the way to hasten the implementation of this new country code.
> Finally, I want to request you to join me also in congratulating and indeed
> thanking the Government and People of Uganda for having permitted us to use
> their “+256” code at a time our own then regulator could not!
>
> Ø  Distinguished Guests, Ladies  and Gentlemen: I cannot sit down before I
> inform you that we have also received our Alpha-numeric Country Codes “SS”
> (Alpha-2) and  “SSD” (Alpha-3) from the International Organization for
> Standardization (ISO), and will soon be advising you of arrangements to
> implement our Internet domain (*dotSS*). As you may have heard, these
> Alpha-codes have many applications, including the national currency (SSP)
> and passports (SSD), among others. In the same vein, we are advanced with
> arrangements to join the Universal Postal Union (UPU) that will permit Juba
> to have its own International Postal Exchange for mail and parcel delivery.
>
> Ø  As for today, enjoy our new country code. Long live the Republic of
> South Sudan. Long live President Salva Kiir. Long live Gemtel. South Sudan
> Oyee!.. +211 Oyee!.. Gemtel Oyee!.. The People and Friends of South Sudan
> Oyee!.. Shukran!
>
> --- end ----
>
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-- 
Francis Hook
+254 733 504561
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