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Gambia gets new telecoms company
Thursday, 15 July 2010 00:06
By Kemo ChamGambia has become the 6th African country to host the continental telecommunications giant, Globacom, local media report in Nigeria, Tuesday.
Globacom Limited (or GLO) is a privately owned multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, which provides GSM and GPRS-based mobile services.
The company, a 100 percent Nigerian owned, received its 6th license, on Monday, to operate in Gambia, just four months after it won a similar license in neighboring Senegal.
The Secretary General Office of the president, Dr Njogou Bah, presented the license approval to Globacom at State House in Banjul.
Glo which presently operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast and Senegal, prides itself as one of the fastest growing multi-national carrier in the world with the vision of becoming the biggest and best carrier on the African continent.
In the words of the Glo Executive Director, Adewale Sangowawa, the Gambia license would enable the telecommunications giant to stimulate world class telecommunication services in the country.
“The new licence adds impetus to our desire to provide the West African sub-region an excellent communication network and a cost-effective voice, data, video and e-commerce services. It underscores our resolve to build for Africa a network that will provide the most comprehensive international communication services to bridge the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the World.” Sangowawa stated.
With a population of just over 1.5 million, Gambia, the smallest country in main land Africa, boasts of a highly competitive telecommunications industry, with four GSM operators, compared to bigger neighbors like Mali, with a population of 14 million, which has only two.
However, Gambia’s national telecommunications company, GAMTEL, which was once a sub regional pride, has been experiencing a downward trend in its successes. But this latest development is expected to reposition it on its past glory and brings the competition to a whole new level in terms of international calling rates and cheaper and more reliable voice, internet and data services for Gambians.
With its gigantic trans-Atlantic submarine cable, Glo 1, Globacom has the right to carry traffic for major operators, the Gambian government and wholesale customers in the country.
Accordingly, it also has the opportunities to extend the infrastructure to neighboring countries.
“With this development, the people of Gambia have now been positioned to be part of the telecommunications revolution which Globacom is bringing to Africa,” a statement by the company said.
It added that the Glo 1 submarine cable which is about to be commissioned will connect Nigeria to the United Kingdom through Mauritania, Morocco and other 16 West African countries with dedicated extension to the United States. And with an ultimate capacity of 2.5 terabits per second, the facility will provide transmission capacity which will radically change Nigeria and Africa’s economic landscape, by providing unprecedented high speed internet services, and make telecom services much faster, more reliable and cheaper for consumers.
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Comments
Comment
Kemo, you are indeed genuine in your analysis & regrets which any honest Gambian can commit. Just like most of us have accepted these MURDERERS in sheep clothing in our yearn for change for better only to find ourselves taken for despicable rides with the Gambians & foreigners alike used as the machinery/beasts of burden with untold sufferings. However, I wonder how we can find permanent solution to the currents predicaments without focusing much on the person who is the MAIN problem? The problems & issues CAN’T/WON’T go away as long as he stays. Your proverb –‘‘Bad habits are easier to abandon today than tomorrow.’’ I also commend your advice ( ...advising you against going through my experience and those of many people who once worshiped Jammeh...) to those who WILL learn from your experience.But can assure you that only Genuine Gambians like most of us will.
Comment
Any new development with positive social/economic benefits for people & friends of Gambia are commendable. The economic impact of this development if successful & sustainable will be tremendous for Gambians & the economy. However, this is only possible if Gamtel’s left entirely independent to run the show & yield the income generated for communal developments. Gamtel’s past problems were due to undue interferences & resources siphoned by yaya just like at the Ports Authority, etc. As Gambians we know this with some of us as employees at some sectors with first hand experiences. Yaya’s also fond of taking bribes & kick backs sometimes disguised in forms of undeclared shares, etc, in such companies; e.g. Africel, which creates some biasness & undue advantages/favours towards such companies with lost to the Economy & Gambians. Development can only be achieved through MASS participation NOT through one GREEDY man’s shows.
...cont...
Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it... and I will do my best to serve Gambia in my own way... I do know that its totally impossible to have all on the same line - in fact that is what democracy is all about - but with patient and tolerance we shall get there eventually; Gowilling!
I appreciate your coments but I personally think it is well overdue. Energy has always been a problem for Gambia!
Thanks for your feedback.Despite am pro government dosent mean everything is right going. But one thing I believe in is Gambian problem is a Gambian solution. I sometimes up-set my critics when I always cite the west in my comments. We can debate for a better Gambia were we will continue to accept one another.Is a challenge to always achieve a goal and it requires honesty, commitment and dedication. All of us must strive to reform errors. You were a public figure at the centre who cannot remember everyone you meet. I was on a research project that I decided to visit the daily observer. I am not a politician but the criticisms and comments that I feel are damaging to the Gambia made me joined the debate that today others regard me as ignorant, a claimer and dishonest citizen. To make things short keep up the good work and problem solving need solution findings in many froms.We know the hypocrisy in this world that words are far from actions.
We can never achieve what we desire if things continue the way they are presently in Gambia.
Media attack on a president is not isolated to Gambia or Yahya Jammeh. In fact it is worst in many countries, for instance in Senegal. Trust me, I am a living experience. There are very many Gambians around Yahya Jammeh who want things done in a better way, but they aren’t being given the chance. And for the most part this is a problem of the way Jammeh runs things.
But not to upset our semblance of agreement, let me stop by advising you against going through my experience and those of many people who once worshiped Jammeh.
He is doing many good things but respect for civil rights is a highly questionable issue presently.
How do we address that…
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