Internet
The Gambia was the first country to participate in the UNDP's Internet Initiative for Africa programme to help establish a low-cost Internet backbone running at 512Kbps via Teleglobe in Canada, with local high speed POPs to provide national coverage. The first ISP connected to the system is QaNet. The Telco, GamTel, also operates an ISP. In addition to the ISP's Commit Enterprises, Netpage and others provide value added services (e-mail, Web page hosting and development etc).

Telecommunications
Gambia Telecoms (GamTel) is both the regulator and sole supplier of basic telecommunications services.
Gamtel is a commercialised company 99% owned by the Government and 1% by the Gambia National Insurance Company. Recent modernisation efforts of Gamtel have lead to an increase in telephone penetration from 0.85 to 1.57 per 100 inhabitants in the rural areas and from 2.7 to 5.4 per 100 inhabitants in the urban areas. The network now consists of about 22000 Direct Exchange Lines however waiting times for obtaining a new telephone line averages 4 years. A modern fibre backbone serves the main towns on one side of the river Gambia.

Networking Activities
Although there is no formal process for establishing a national academic/research or public sector network in Gambia the UNDP IIA programme is expected to improve conditions for this to take place.
MRC/HealthNet Gambia provides a non-commercial ISP free for certain medical and NGO organisations.
The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies established email connectivity in 1993.