By

GABRIEL LATJOR NDOW - B.A., M.S.

Transforming The Gambia to a “Silicon Valley of Africa”

OUTLINEDemographicsICT InfrastructureHuman ResourcesLegal and Regulatory FrameworkPrograms/Projects/Initiatives for ICT

DevelopmentFactors that limit the access to ICTTowards 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 InfrastructureInternet 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 DevelopmentE-Government Strategy implementation National E-Government Task Force Government Web Portal Inter-Governmental ConnectivityRegional ICT Centers - Proposed NICI Implementation Plan (ICT4D 2012 Plan) E-EducationE-Health

Factors that limit the access to ICTLow level of education/low literacy Low skilled workforce Technology-challenged societyLack of awareness Low affordability Gender issues Wide digital divide Lack of Electric Power

Toward a Science and Technology Literate SocietyUNESCO ReportVideo promo

THANK YOU!JERE JEF!

ABARAKA!