By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
On Wednesday, stakeholders from the telecommunications industry convened to review and validate the draft design of infrastructure-sharing regulations specifically tailored for the telecommunications sector. The gathering sought consensus and input from key industry players regarding the proposed regulations, which are set to significantly impact the telecommunications landscape.
Dr. Njogu Bah, former Secretary General, Head of Civil Service, and current Director General of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), presided over the validation workshop. The meeting aims to ensure a more effective, efficient, and inclusive infrastructure ecosystem for the telecommunications and digital economy sectors.
“Our purpose here today is to present these regulations and invite input from you, our valued stakeholders. This is a crucial step in ensuring that these regulations not only meet the current needs of our sector but also position us well for the future,” Dr. Njogu Bah disclosed while addressing the stakeholders’ convergence.
He highlighted that infrastructure sharing is a key component in the evolution of the country’s digital economy, adding that sharing infrastructure will promote the optimal use of resources, reduce duplication, and enable service providers to reach underserved areas more efficiently.
According to him, infrastructure sharing fosters collaboration over competition, creating a level playing field where both large and small players can thrive.
He notes that the document’s ultimate goal is to benefit the consumers who rely on the services offered by the stakeholders for their daily life activities.
“The resulting document reflects our devotion to creating a regulatory environment that balances the interests of all stakeholders – service providers, consumers, and regulators,” former Secretary General and Head of Civil Servants highlighted.
PURA Boss encourages participants to share their thoughts, suggestions, critiques, and recommendations. “It’s only through open dialogue and constructive feedback that we can build a regulatory framework that truly serves the best interest of our sector.”
“Let’s work together to ensure that these regulations will lead to a more robust, competitive, and dynamic infrastructure-sharing environment that ultimately benefits every Gambian,” he urged.
He further stated that a dedicated committee carefully crafted the regulatory framework under discussion that drew experts from diverse backgrounds across key sectors and considered inputs, including the validated reference access offers and relevant laws.
Participants were drawn from various GSM companies operating in the country, including the Ministry of Trade and Tourism.
