Using Skype, Viber in Gambia "strictly prohibited"

The use of Skype, Viber or any other internet devices to make or receive calls at internet cafés in The Gambia has henceforth been banned.

According to a directive from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, through a press release issued on Friday, offering of international and national calling services at internet cafés using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, such as Viber and Skype, is strictly prohibited and considered an offence, although no penalty is specified.

More and more people in the country now make calls via the Internet instead of using mobile phones or conventional landlines. 

“Anyone who is engaged in this activity is depriving the country of the much needed revenue from international and national calls, required for the development of The Gambia,” PURA says.

The Gambia News Online was reliably informed that telecommunications companies in the country have lodged a complaint to PURA, as regulator, that they are experiencing consistent drop in revenue due to reduction in the amount of money spent on recharge phone credit by the public. 

This is primarily due to increase in the number of people using internet cafés to make not only international but also local calls, which cost virtually nothing.

However, with this new directive, internet cafés are strictly prohibited from allowing their customers to use the internet to make or receive calls via Skype, Viber or any other internet services.

Implementing this directive would cause serious confrontations between internet café operators and many of their customers who have already used to making calls via these internet devices. 

Prior to this directive, operators did not have any control over their customers who buy time to surf the net. 

The only restriction some cafés have is browsing pornographic websites, other than that customers could transact any business they want to online. 

“This is going to make me lose a lot of customers,” an internet café operator in Latrikunda German said. 

“Apart from Facebook, most of the people come here just to talk on Skype with their people abroad; now if Skype is prohibited it means many people will not be coming here again.”

Using Skype to call at internet cafés does not attract any additional cost apart from the cost of the time one uses to access the internet. 

For instance, if someone pays D15 to browse the internet for an hour in an internet café, within that time the individual can talk on Skype at no other cost.

Skype or Viber does not allow for free voice call, computer to computer, but both parties communicating can see each other when using a webcam.

“The only time that I talk to my husband is when I go to the internet café,” said Fatou Njie, who says her husband has travelled to the United Kingdom for studies. 

Fatou, who is currently taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, said she is not having a phone that is Skype-enabled neither does she have a laptop through which she can communicate on Skype at home. 

“Now prohibiting Skype at internet cafés is just going to make it difficult for me to communicate with my husband for a longer time like we do on Skype.” 

Gambia Postal Services to redundant some staff with NAWEC tariff increment

Some staff of the Gambia Postal Services (Gampost) may be redundant when the 33% tariff increment proposed by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) finally comes into effect.

Gampost Managing Director Momodou Ceesay has said if the proposed 33% tariff increment by NAWEC is effected, his institution, which pays huge electricity bill to the utility company, will be adversely affected and might lead to the laying-off of some his staff , or a passing-over  cost of it to users of his services.

Mr Momodou Ceesay, MD Gampost

Gampost currently pays D1million for electricity annually, which “is too high”, so an increase by 33% means an additional burden of D330,000 and a total cost of D1,330,000 the national postal service will have to be paying for electricity annually.

“Where do we get the additional D330,000,” the Gampost managing director asks rhetorically at a March 17 Public Hearing held this year at the Father Farell Hall at Westfield, organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to gauge public comments on the proposed tariff increment by NAWEC to 33%  on electricity, water and sewerage services.

“So when the new tariff comes into effect, I have two options: either to increase the cost of postal services, or to reduce the number of staff,” the Gampost MD said. 

“If I opt for the latter, this will have negative impacts on my staff because there are other people who are depending on each of them given the fact that the dependency ratio in this country is high.”

Electricity, water tariffs to further increase by 33 per cent

The National Water and Electricity Company Limited has proposed to further increase the current tariffs of electricity, water and sewerage services by 33 %, barely one year after the electricity tariff was increased by 16.50% for domestic consumption and19.44% for commercial usage.

Justifying this unpopular move, NAWEC explained that it current tariffs are not sufficient to sustain their operational obligations due to rising cost of inputs such as fuel, lubricants, and spare parts.

Most of the people said the current tariff for electricity in the country “is already high” to be increased, but NAWEC insists that its current tariffs not being sufficient to sustain the company’s operational obligations.  As a result, NAWEC said, they have since resorted to short term borrowing from commercial banks at exorbitant cost and the repayment of investment loans, which is also putting the company under enormous financial stress.

In this vein, the company has filed an application for an upward review of its tariffs to the Public Authority Regulatory Authority (PURA), a multi-sector utilities regulator, including NAWEC offered services.  Accordingly, PURA, as part of its mandate to balance the interest of both the consumers and public utilities, is to stage another Public Hearing on 17^th March at Father Pharrel Hall in Westfield. 

Consumer Parliament: Questions rain down on NAWEC

At the forth consumer parliament recently held in Banjul, more than 90 per cent of the questions were directed to the National Water and Electricity Company Limited and most of the questions were based on the frequent un-notified electricity outage in the country.

NAWEC staff present at the forum were under fire as questions came from different corners of the hall as soon as the moderator of the event, Peter Gomez, declared the floor opened for questions to the services providers.

The consumer parliament was organized by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to bring consumers of communications, electricity, water and sewerage services face-to-face with the operators to express their views, concerns and complaints to them. The forum, held in Banjul, was the fourth of its kind.

The issue of NAWEC has been a pain in the neck of many Gambians, both corporate and ordinary people as the frequent un-notified power outage in the country has left a bad taste in the mouth of many people.

Public rejects NAWEC’s proposed tariffs increment

Lamin Jahateh, Banjul Most of the people at PURA’s Public Hearing held on Saturday at Father Farrell Hall in Westfield vehemently condemned the proposed tariff increase by National Water and Electricity Company Limited (NAWEC), the sole provider of electricity, water and sewerage services in The Gambia. The Public Hearing, which was organized by the Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), was meant to obtain public comment on an application that they (PURA) received from NAWEC to increase the current tariffs of electricity, water and sewerage services. “PURA received an application from NAWEC on 27th December 2010 for an increase in electricity, water and sewerage tariffs,” said Mr Maleh Saine, Officer-In-Charge of PURA. Pic: DoDou Bammy Jagne, Chairman PURA Board of Commissioners He explained that PURA Act 2001 and the Electricity Act 2005 mandated PURA to consult with all stakeholders on matter of such importance and sensitivity that affect both the operator and the consumer.  “Initial consultations have also been held with Central Government, industrial and commercial consumers,” he said. Mr Saine said PURA is mandated specifically under Section 18 of the Electricity Act 2005 which states that “the Authority may in accordance with the provisions of the Regulatory Authority Act determines, review, approve, modify or refuse the tariff and the terms and conditions of the service provided by licensees.” “Through hearing your views it will enable us to arrive at a proper decision in ensuring that we have available, affordable and accessible services in respect of electricity water and sewerage services,” said Mr Dodou Bammy Jagne, the Chairman of PURA Board of Commissioners. Mr. Alhagie Jallow, Finance Director of NAWEC, said the company is proposing certain prices for the different services; for Greater Banjul Area (GBA) “we are proposing 36% increment for electricity, 26% for water, and 27% for sewerage.” He said the objective of NAWEC is to provide affordable electricity, water and sewerage services to Gambian peoples.  “We know if we are to charge very high prices, under normal circumstance, it will not be affordable, and the objective of providing these basic services is to make it available and affordable to the people who are going to use them,” he explained. When the Moderator of the occasion, Mr Peter Gomez, opened the floor for comments and questions relevant to the proposed tariff increase from the people, one speaker after the other strongly condemned the tariffs increment, but NAWEC said they are left with no other option given the ever increasing cost of both light and heavy fuel and lubricants, increasing cost of energy purchased from the Intermittent Power Producer (IPP), and high of cost labour and maintenance. NAWEC officials said if the company is to remain in operation, they have to increase the tariff because “the current revenue base of the company is not able to sustain the company’s operational obligations resulting them to short term borrowing from commercial banks at exorbitant cost.” Later on, as the program was coming to an end, the Moderator announced that those who are in support of the proposed tariff increase to raise their hand, but unfortunately, only two people raised their hands in support of the increment. The comments and concerns of the people are to be incorporated for due consideration in accordance with Section 20(C) of the Electricity Act in making a final determination. The Public Hearing is the sixth of the nine steps that PURA is to take before final tariffs come into effect. However, shortly after the Hearing many people who spoke to Marketplace said that NAWEC has already reached a decision to increase the tariff, “so whether the people agree to it or not it will be increased, this is just a formality”, Ousman Gibba said.  “I know they will increase, but if they do that it is going to affect average Gambians, because many people are already struggling to pay for the current tariff as it is,” said Demba Jarju. The last three steps before the new tariffs come into force is for PURA to take a decision with regard to the increment, publish the new tariff, and finally the tariff come into force. Given the fact that the proposed tariffs increment was received with a strong condemnation from the general public will PURA give NAWEC the go ahead to increase the tariffs?

Telecoms investment nosedive

By Lamin Jahateh, Banjul Investment in The Gambia’s telecommunication sector has decelerated in 2009, as indicated by the latest report of the sector’s regulatory body. The latest annual report of The Gambia Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) states that total annual investment in the telecommunication sector was equivalent to D699.3 million in 2009 compared to the 2008 figures of D874 million. “This shows a 17.4% fall in investment figures in the sector,” the report states.  The reported figures show QCell, the latest entrant in the country’s telecoms sector, with the highest amount of investment in 2009. Before 2009, The Gambia has been experiencing steady growth in the telecommunications sector, especially as the cell phone revolution intensified in the country in the last six years with the coming of Africell, Comium, and QCell in 2009.  These developments shot up telecoms investment in the country and spurred competition in the sector by mobile operators. Employment While unemployment poses a serious challenge to national development, and the government continues to put in place remedial measures to create job opportunities for Gambians, the PURA report indicated that 2,139 people were employed in the telecoms sector at the end of 2009, from the 2007 and 2008 levels of 1976 and 1840 employees respectively.  “This shows that the sector has registered moderate 8.3% growth in employment during the period under review,” the report states. Subscriber base The telecoms sector reported 1,409,732 voice subscribers in 2009 a net addition of 194,732 voice subscriber to the 2008 figures of 1,215, 004 voice subscribers, which represented 3.6% growth. The number of reported mobile subscribers grew by 16.7% during 2009 compared to 45.9% recorded during 2008; whilst the fixed line subscribers had recorded a decrease in growth rate of -0.8%. “The less impressive growth in the mobile subscribers number in 2009 could be a as a result of the market reaching saturation,” the reported states. Telephone penetration level The telephone penetration level, which is measured as the percentage of the population owing a fixed and or mobile services, has been very impressive over the last three years, 2007, 2008, and 2009, registering, 54.47%, 76% and 88.11% respectively.  According to the report, the rationale for this impressive performance in the penetration level is as a result of the strong performance registered in the mobile subscriber base.  The mobile penetration level constitutes about 94%, 96% and 97% of the total penetration levels in 2007, 2008, and 2009 respectively. GSM growth in Africa Africa is leading in the GSM growth rate, according to the GSM Association Universal Access Report, which maintains that mobile operators are providing universal access in many developing markets, and have done so “at a pace unimaginable’. The report states that in Africa the growth rate is the fastest in the world and “already contains some very significant success stories”.  It also revealed that amongst the 43 African countries surveyed, 10 have achieved GSM coverage greater than 90% of population and a further 8 have coverage of 70% or greater, the report reveals. It says that approximately half of African countries face a greater challenge to bring greater geographical and population coverage to markets where penetration and affordability are low.  It added that these are generally low income countries, mostly with large geographical areas or topographical and electricity supply infrastructures, which contribute to high operator costs, the report indicates. < Prev   Next >

Low payment of regulatory fees hampers PURA’s activities

By Lamin Jahateh, The Gambian Banker, Banjul The Gambia Public Regulatory Authority (PURA) has disclosed that low payment of regulatory fees by operators in the telecommunications, electricity, and the water and sewage sectors has continue to hamper some of its regulatory activities. Even though the amount collectible as regulatory fees by PURA was pegged at a ceiling of 1.5% of the operators’ turnover – which is one of the lowest rates charged by regulatory authorities in Africa - operators in The Gambia still not paying up fees as invoiced by the Authority. Pic: Director General of PURA, Mr. Alagi B. Gaye According to PURA’s 2009 Annual Report, out of amount of D42, 606 million budgeted as regulatory fees income, only D34, 376 million was collected, leaving an outstanding balance of D8, 229,651. The report added that all telecoms operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have fully paid their regulatory fees for 2009, excepted Gamtel, Africell, and Unique Solutions.  Out of the D11, 761,542 invoiced to Gamtel, it only paid D8, 821,157 leaving an outstanding balance of D2, 940,385.  Africell paid D9, 500,000 out of D10, 825,256 invoiced to them leaving an outstanding balance of D1, 325, 256.  Unique Solution did not pay a single butut out of D50, 000 invoiced to them. Again, National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) owe PURA, as they did in 2007.   NAWEC paid D5, 000,000 out of D6, 448 608 invoiced to them, leaving an outstanding balance of D1, 448,608 for 2009 regulatory fees. Global Electric Group (GEG), an independent power production company, paid D2, 000,000 out of D4, 465,402 invoiced to them, leaving an outstanding balance of D2, 465,402. “Undoubtedly, the non compliance by NAWEC and GEG has continued to hamper the implementation of some of PURA’s regulatory activities in the energy sector,” the report stated. “PURA depends on two main sources for its income.  These are regulatory fees from regulated utilities and government subvention,” it added. The amount demanded from operators as regulatory fees is based on the annual budget of PURA, which is approved by the Board of Commissioners.  The amount collectible as regulatory fees pegged at a ceiling of 1.5% of the operators’ turnover, which is one of the lowest rates charged by regulatory authorities in Africa. The ceiling was determined to ensure that “operators do not incur exorbitant regulatory charges which are passed on to consumers”, the report noted, adding that in the year 2009, 1.3% of operators’ turnover was invoiced.  Despite that consideration, the payment of regulatory fee by NAWEC and GEG has not been encouraging. The report noted that the major expenditure of the PURA has been on staff cost, the same as of last year.  “The Authority has been very prudent in utilizing its financial resources,” it stated adding that with the recruitment of more staff, and the outlook for the next nine months it is envisage that more resources would be spent on the procurements of essentials spectrum monitoring equipments and staff training, consumer outreach and sensitization programmes, consumer parliament sessions, consultancies and other staff incentives policies.