By
GABRIEL LATJOR NDOW - B.A., M.S.
Transforming The Gambia to a
“Silicon Valley of Africa”
OUTLINE
 Demographics
 ICT Infrastructure
 Human Resources
 Legal and Regulatory Framework
 Programs/Projects/Initiatives for ICT Development
 Factors that limit the access to ICT
 Towards a Technology Literate Society
Demographics
 GENERAL INFORMATION:
 Total population
 1.361 million (2003 census) 1.731 million (2010 projection)
 Urban population
 684,158
 Rural population
 676,523
 Local Government Areas
 Banjul , Kanifing, Brikama, Mansakonko, Kerewan, Kuntaur, Janjangbureh and
Basse
 Total land area
 11,632 square kilometers
 Leading sector
 Agriculture
 Percentage of the population with access to electricity
 Urban - 63.22%
 Rural - 18.75%
ICT Infrastructure
 Country code top level domain (ccTLD)
name
 .gm
 Government web portal site
 www.gambia.gov.gm or www.gov.gm
Inception of the internet in The
Gambia
 1998
 Fixed Line Provider
 Gambia Telecommunication Company
(GAMTEL)
 Fixed Line Subscribers
 • 2006 = 53,000
 • 2007 = 50,000
 • 2008 = 48,886
 • 2009 = 43454 Telephone penetration
rate
 21.6% in 2006, 54% in 2007, 76% 2008
•Telephone Subscriber
•Mobile GSM operators and approx. number
of subscribers
•2007 = 8418,371
•2008 = 1,215,004
•1,166,136 GSM Mobile & 48,886 Fixed line
by 2008
•As at 2009 the GSM Subscribers are as
follows:
•• Africell – 636,000
•• Comium – 145,000
•• Gamcel - 318,960
• Qcell – 200,000*
• International bandwidth
• In-bound • Out-bound - 86 MB *
• Internet Subscribers
• 2005 = 2,060
• 2006 = 1,442
• 2007 = 4,814
• 2008 = 2,522
• 2009 = 2,858
ICT Infrastructure
Internet Service Providers and number of subscribers
• Gamtel • QuantumNet/Qcell • Netpage • Lanix Limited
• Connexion Solution • Unique Solutions
Type of Internet Access
• ADSL, leased line, Wireless (CDMA, 3G and Broadband)
Estimated percentage of the population with computer
•Urban - 7.71%
•Rural - 1.06%
Estimated percentage of the population with access to internet
•Urban - 5.01%
•Rural - 0.24%
Number of internet cafes - ???
Cost of Internet Access (average)
•D200 – D1000 equivalent to 8 US $ - $30 per month for unlimited access
and less than 50 cents per hour for phone/dial up time
ICT Infrastructure
•Number of TV Stations - One (1) - GRTS
•Satellite and Cable TV providers : DSTv/Premium Network, GamTV.
• Number of Operational Radio Stations :
• FM radio stations - 10
•
Community radio stations - 3
• Number of newspaper – 8?
• Household with Electricity
•
Banjul & Kanifing - 71.54%
•
Brikama Urban & Kombo North - 21.07%
•
Other Urban - 9.38%
•
Other Rural - 1.37%
•Number of Gambian websites - ???
• Government - 50 (estimate)
• Private Companies - ???
• NGOs - ???
• Others - ???
HUMAN RESOURCES
• National literacy rate - 75%
• Number of University One (1) - University of The Gambia
• Computer to Student Ratio
•
Middle/Upper Basic Schools – 1 : 110
•
Senior Secondary Schools – 1 : 29
•
Tertiary/Higher Education – 1 : 10
Percent of ICT Qualified Teachers
•
•
•
•
•
Lower Basic School - 2.4%
Middle/Upper Basic Schools - 4.2%
Senior Secondary Schools - 15.8%
Vocational/technical - 38.5%
Tertiary/Higher Education - 13.9%
ICT Training Institutions
• Currently there are 33* ICT Training Institutions in the Gambia
Legal and Regulatory Framework
 The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001
 Gambia Radio and Television Services Corporation Act, 2004
 Wireless & Telegraphic (transmission, licensing & control)
Regulation of the Telegraphic Station Act, 1994
 Information and Communication Act, 2008
Programs/Projects/Initiatives for
ICT Development
 E-Government Strategy implementation
 National E-Government Task Force
 Government Web Portal
 Inter-Governmental Connectivity
 Regional ICT Centers - Proposed
 NICI Implementation Plan (ICT4D 2012 Plan)
 E-Education
 E-Health
Factors that limit the access to ICT
 Low level of education/low literacy
 Low skilled workforce
 Technology-challenged society
 Lack of awareness
 Low affordability
 Gender issues
 Wide digital divide
 Lack of Electric Power
Toward a Science and Technology
Literate Society
 UNESCO Report
 Video promo
THANK YOU!
JERE JEF!
ABARAKA!