The Gambia: ICT Sector &
Data Collection
Matarr Touray
PURA
Presentation Outline
Key Statistics
 Penetration
 2G & 3G Services
 Rationale for Data Collection
 Data Collection in The Gambia
 Challenges
 Way Forward

18/11/2009
Key Statistics
2012
Fixed Line
Operators
2013
2014
1
1
1
4
4
4
5
5
5
Fixed Line
Subscriptions
64,196
50,334
47,540
Mobile
Subscriptions
1,526,181
1,986,490
2,159,099
Fixed Internet
Subscriptions
3,112
2,501
3,200
Mobile Internet
Subscriptions
127,809
157,488
308,393
Mobile Operators
ISPs
Status of Submarine Cables in The
Gambia
Cable
Name
Landing
Point
Design
Capacity
Allocated
Capacity
(GAMBIA)
Launch
Date
Est. Cable
Cost
ACE
Brusubi
5.12 Tb/s
10 Gb/s
Dec. 2012
US$
35,000,000
DYNAMIC
COUNTRY!!
Fixed Lines Subscription
Fixed Subscriptions
70,000
64,196
60,000
50,334
50,000
47,540
40,000
2012
2013
30,000
2014
20,000
10,000
0
2012
2013
2014
Mobile
Subscriptions
Active Subscriptions Mobile
2,500,000
2,159,099
1,986,490
2,000,000
1,526,181
1,500,000
2012
2013
2014
1,000,000
9% increase in
Subscriptions
2013 -2014
500,000
2012
2013
2014
SUBSCRIPTIONS
SUB. Growth Rate
Fixed & Mobile Internet
Subscription
Mobile Data Subscribers
Fixed Internet Subscribers
250,000
3,500
3,000
200,000
Data Subscribers
2,500
150,000
2,000
2012
3G
2013
GPRS
1,500
100,000
2014
1,000
50,000
500
0
2012
0
2012
2013
2014
2013
2014
Postpaid vs Prepaid
Subscriptions
0.65%
0.45%
Prepaid
99.35%
2012 Prepaid and Postpaid
Subscriptions
Postpaid
99.55%
2013 Prepaid and Postpaid
Subscriptions
0.30%
2014 Prepaid and Postpaid
Subscriptions
99.70%
Operator Growth
Mobile Customers
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
2009
2010
GAMCEL
18/11/2009
2011
AFRICELL
2012
COMIUM
2013
2014
QCELL
Q1-2015
Mobile Penetration
140
120
Fixed
100
African Avg.
Fixed
80
Mobile
60
African Avg.
Mobile
40
Total
20
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2G & 3G Mobile Services



Population Coverage (Very High) 96%
Connections over 2.5m
Market Penetration
 120%
 African Avg -72%

3G Penetration
 8-10%
 Annual Growth Rate >22%

Tariffs & Revenue per minute
 83% O/G = On-Net
 Voice tariff = GMD 3 per minute (7.5 cents US$)
 Revenue per minute = GMD 1-1.5 / minute
(i.e., Discounts 50%)
ARPU
 US$ (2.00 - 2.50)

Rationale for Data Collection

Market Assessment
 Fastest
growing sector
 Market Comparisons
 Competition Considerations

Need for Reliable Statistics
 Evidenced
Based Policy Making
 Targeted Interventions
ICT Sector Growth
Growth Rates in Regulated Sectors
16
14
12
%
10
Communication
8
Electricity, Gas and Water
GDP Growth
6
4
2
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ICT Data Collection in The
Gambia
MOICI
GBOS
•Policy Making
•Universal Service
•New Investment
•Surveys
•National Census
•National Accounts
PURA
Consumers
•Tariffs
•Education
Operators
•Appraisal
•Competition
•Market Trends
Data Collection

E-mail based platform with focal points
 Quarterly

Data submitted to Economics Department
 Data

Submissions
submission only by recognized focal person
Responsible for Data Validation
 Identified
Gaps
 Correlations with previous periods

Flexible mechanism to allow for Data correction
 e.g
Active Subscribers
Market Surveys


Prohibitive due to Financial Constraints
Relies on Census Data for Internet Usage etc.
 GBOS
 Infrequent Time Period
 Dynamic Sector

(10 Years)
PURA initiatives
 Quality of Experience Survey
 Growth Centers
 Actual Customer Perception
 Deviates from QOS
Challenges

Challenges to be expected in most Data
Collection exercises
 Two
Public Sector Operators (GAMTEL & GAMCEL)
 Timeliness & Accuracy of Submissions by both
 Frequent Back & Forth delaying updating of Statistics
 Operators Understanding of Some Indicators
 Private Operators understand the importance of the
Collection
 Indicator Definitions especially for Mobile Broadband.
(GPRS vs 3G, Dedicated Mobile Data Subs)
Data Collection – Way Forward

Develop Online Data Collection Tool


Log-in Credentials provided to Operators





Electronically signed after submission
Identified focal Persons
Data may-be modified before deadlines
Immediate Back-end Comparisons between services
Develop accompanying Android & iOS Apps



Hosted on www.pura.gm
ICT Indicators Portal
Public Consumption
Conducting First Market Assessment Study
THANK YOU
mtt@pura.gm