Current Status of ICT in The Gambia

1
Current Status of ICT in The Gambia Focus on
Business

• Presented by
• Muhammed Jah
• Managing Director, QuantumNET Co. Ltd.

2
Presentation Outline

• Brief History of ICT in The Gambia
• ICT in Gambian Businesses today
• The way forward for ICT in The Gambia

3
Prelude

• Growing disparity between the countries of the
  north and the south are so enormous. The huge
  divide is not only in the socio-economic and
  political spheres but also in technology.
• ICT properly utilised and appropriately applied
  can bridge this gap help demarginalise all
  developing countries and enable them to recapture
  lost ground and revive their socio-economic
  initiatives.
• The Gambia is no exception. ICT is being utilised
  in business.

4
Brief History of ICT The Gambia Pre 1998 Era

• ICT spans four major industries in The Gambia
• Telecommunications
• Information Technology
• Internet
• Television/Radio

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Brief History of ICT in The Gambia

• Telecommunications
• Digital Exchanges
• Fibre Optic
• Land line penetration
• Analogue Cellular
• Radio Pagers

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Brief History of ICT in The Gambia

• Information Technology
• Low level of computer penetration
• Basic computer applications utilised
• Low level of human resources
• High tariffs on computer equipment
• Less than 25 utilisation by businesses

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Brief History of ICT in The Gambia

• Internet
• X.21 Link available to GAMTEL, 9600 bps
• High connectivity costs through Compuserve
  Delphi
• Less than 100 customers
• No Internet Cafes
• Basic Internet services offered (Email Browsing
  only)
• Few trained personnel
• No web presence

8
Brief History of ICT in The Gambia

• Television / Radio
• One TV station (Government owned)
• One Cable TV service provider (Private owned)
• Several Radio Stations (FM, MW, SW)

9
Pre 1998 Benefits

• Reliable telephone network
• Faster banking services
• Country-wide television / radio coverage

10
Pre 1998 Constraints

• Technology advancement was hindered by
• High cost of ICT equipment
• High illiteracy rate
• Few ICT personnel
• Limited involvement of Private sector
• Availabity of electricity
• Limited Internet access
• No ICT Policy

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ICT in Gambian Businesses today

• Telecommunications
• Digital Exchanges (All exchanges)
• Fibre Optic country wide
• Land line penetration country wide
• 2 GSM Cellular operators
• Radio Pagers (not fully utilised)
• More corporate customers

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ICT in Gambian Businesses today

• Information Technology
• Higher level of computer penetration
• More advanced computer applications utilised
• Higher level of human resources
• Lower tariffs on computer equipment
• More than 75 utilisation by businesses
• More local ICT training institutions

13
ICT in Gambian Businesses today

• Internet
• Multihomed 2Mbps Backbone, 2 Gateways , total of
  3 Mbps bandwidth
• Lower connectivity costs
• More than 10,000 users
• More than 50 Internet Cafes
• All Internet services offered
• 3 Local ISPs 2 private and 1 government
• More trained personnel
• Advent of e-commerce Internet telephone
  banking
• More businesses with web presence

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ICT in Gambian Businesses today

• Television / Radio
• One TV station (Government owned)
• Two Cable TV service providers (Private owned)
• Satellite TV (DSTV)
• More Radio Stations (FM, MW, SW)

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Current Benefits

• More ICT related employment opportunities
• Faster, cheaper and more reliable communication
  services
• Drastic reduction of operational costs
• More private sector participation
• ICT policy discussions in progress
• Integration of Gambian businesses into global
  markets

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Current Constraints

• Technology advancement is hindered by
• Relatively high cost of ICT equipment
• High illiteracy rate
• Few ICT personnel
• Limited involvement of Private sector
• Availability of electricity outside Greater
  Banjul Area
• Relatively high cost of Internet access
• Limited Internet bandwidth
• Still No ICT Policy
• Telecommunication monopoly
• High Telecommunication tariffs
• No on-line payment facilities

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The way forward for ICT in The Gambia

• More collaboration between business sector
  government
• Zero tariffs on ICT equipment
• No monopoly
• ICT Policy
• Encourage more ICT Institutions
• Train more ICT personnel
• More incentives for ICT businesses
• Encourage newer and cheaper telecommunications
  technologies
• High local telephone penetration
• Country-wide electricity

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Thank You