ICT Revolution

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed our economy and our lives considerably for the past 14 years. In the past, communication used to be done through telex or telegraphs and telephones were a luxury, which only an insignificant fraction of the society could afford. But in the 19th and 20th centuries, the world witnessed gigantic breakthroughs in communication and information technologies.

These triumphant undertakings have evidently transformed human lives and societies around the world, with multi-billion Dollar investments being pumped into the sector, owing to its dynamism and seemingly unending potential and opportunites for new discoveries.

ICT

Ample evidence shows that ICT plays a crucial role in facilitating the diffusion and utilisation of communication technologies in Africa. However, the development of ICT in a country is determined by the availability of computer equipment, internet connectivity, telephony, ICT human resources, accessibility to ICT services and quality. Although internet connectivity and quality service provision still remain as challenges, considerable improvements have been made on other fronts. With renewed vigor and unwavering commitment to technology, all the artificial bottlenecks, which appeared to have stymied some of our progress, will be adequately dealt with.

In fact, huge cost reductions and new ICT innovations have worked together to drive the expansion and diffusion of new applications that have subsequently enabled the development of additional high-tech products and services, new investments, and new ways of doing things.  In other words, the positive economic feedback generated by most ICT innovations has stimulated higher levels of economic productivity and increased economic gains.

The formulation of sound ICT policies, coupled with the high political will is increasingly turning the country into a hi-tech society, resulting to the proliferation of internet outlets and a good number of determined service providers- such as QuantumNet, Unique Solutions and Quantum Associates, who are reputed for their long term plans of bringing the internet to the doorsteps of the rural communities. This makes the private sector participation all the more crucial if the country is to rapidly move forward on her march for technological advancement, as well as accelerate the efforts for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Information and communication technologies have increasingly been mainstreamed into some of our development initiatives over the past decade. For the first in our history, computers inbuilt with the numerous accessories and internet connections are now available in almost all the well-established schools in the country, workplaces and even our homes. Within the government structure, many of the departments have a fair share of ICT products and internet connectivity. More than 50 per cent of government institutions have computer workstations and servers, and more is being done through the current structural reforms that would bring ICT to the rural institutions, including the offices of the commissioners. The introduction of the wireless internet technologies, notably the broadband and other wireless facilities further catapults The Gambia forward in ICT development. Unlike many countries in the sub-region, internet services are widely available in The Gambia at many locations at affordable cost.

Telephony/mobile phones

The Gambia won the admiration and respect of many worldwide for her reliable telephone systems. According to the official information, the country has a fixed line telephone penetration rate of 3.1 per cent. The penetration rate is 6 per cent in the urban area and about 1 per cent in the rural areas. Combined with mobile phones, there is total penetration of 11 per cent.

There are three GSM service providers in the country – Gamcel, Africell and the newest  Comium. Each of these service providers has a total subscriber base of hundreds of thousands.

Their services are widely spread across the length and breadth of the country, amid aggressive and robust marketing strategies designed to woo as many customers as possible to each of the service providers. In the past, people had to travel long distances to communicate to loved ones in other parts of the country or even abroad. That is now history, as the presence of these service providers has indisputably gone a long way in alleviating difficulties people used to encounter  just to talk to a business partner or a relative abroad.

"If you look at the current trend, you will see that 600,000 to 900,000 mobile phones are in use in The Gambia. This means that everyone can access communication. Even where you don’t have one, your immediate neighbour must have it. It has facilitated the smooth running of many development ventures," said Rein Zwolsman, the chief executive officer of Gamtel/Gamcel.

"The GSM has improved the life of the common man remarkably. Then, communication used to be a privilege, available to only a few people in society. Home lines were available to only a few people. But the GSM has made it virtually possible for every Gambian to own a cellphone and to be able to communicate freely," said Papa Leigh, the sales manager of Africell.

"In the past seven to eight years, people were using voice. This year, people moved to another stage to enjoy telecom by using our GPRS data products, which allow people to be connected to the internet," said Samer Mehaidly, the commercial director of Comium.

Indeed, the availability of a reliable communication system has direct bearing on the economic activities of a nation. Indeed, this has contributed significantly in lubricating the wheel of rapid socio-economic transformation in the country.