The one network area is now operational between South Sudan and the three East African countries, an official has said.

The deal entails that subscribers can now use their local mobile telephone lines such as Viva Cell, Gemtel, Zain, and MTN, in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Rebecca Okwaci, says the call rates will not be affected by the changes.

“Today from here you can call Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda using your local SIM Card and you will be paying the same cost that you are paying when you are in Juba,” Ms Okwaci told the media on Monday.

Miss Okwaci just returned from the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where she had gone to attend the Transform Africa Summit.

The theme of the summit was: ‘Accelerating digital innovation’.

The One Network Area is being implemented following a directive of the 5^th Heads of State Summit held in Kenya back in May 2014.

At another summit in Rwanda on July 03, the leaders expressed satisfaction with progress.

Regional line-ministries were directed to ensure the following: Exemption of regional calls from surcharges applied by member states on international incoming calls.

No additional charges to subscribers on account of roaming within the region. And no charges for receiving calls while roaming within.

There will also be a significant drop in cost of calls within Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya by an average of 60%.