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Telecommunications in the Gambia includes radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

Radio and television

thumb|[[Radio Syd near Banjul]]

  • Radio: The state-owned Gambia Radio and Television Service has two AM stations (Bonto, Basse) and three FM stations (Bonto, Serrekunda, Banjul). There are also seven private FM stations in Serrekunda, Banjul, and Basse. There are nine community FM radio stations.Transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio (2007).
  • Radio sets: 196,000 (1997).
  • Television: The Gambia Radio and Television Service operates a single-channel TV service with the main transmitter at Banjul and numerous relay stations.
  • Main lines: 64,200 lines in use, 159th in the world (2012).
  • Fixed broadband: 497 subscriptions, 188th in the world; less than 0.05% of the population, 178th in the world (2012).
  • Wireless broadband: 22,435 subscriptions, 131st in the world; 1.2% of the population, 132nd in the world (2012).
  • Internet hosts: 656 hosts, 179th in the world (2012).

Internet censorship and surveillance

The Gambia is not individually classified by the OpenNet Initiative (ONI), but is classified as engaged in selective Internet filtering based on the limited descriptions in the ONI 2009 profile for the sub-Saharan Africa region.

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without appropriate legal authority. Individuals and groups can generally engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail. However, Internet users reported they could not access the Web sites of foreign online newspapers Freedom, The Gambia Echo, Hellogambia, and Jollofnews, which criticized the government.

The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press; however, the government restricted these rights. According to the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, "the environment for independent and opposition media remained hostile, with numerous obstacles to freedom of expression, including administrative hurdles, arbitrary arrest and detention, intimidation and judicial harassment against journalists, and the closure of media outlets, leading to self-censorship." Individuals who publicly or privately criticized the government or the president risked government reprisal. In March 2011 President Jammeh warned independent journalists that he would "not compromise or sacrifice the peace, security, stability, dignity, and the well being of Gambians for the sake of freedom of expression." Accusing some journalists of being the "mouthpiece of opposition parties," he vowed to prosecute any journalist who offended him. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) was involved in arbitrary closure of media outlets and the extrajudicial detention of journalists. in 2006 the Gambian police ordered all subscribers to an online independent newspaper to report to the police or face arrest.

The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, but the government does not respect these prohibitions. Observers believe the government monitors citizens engaged in activities that it deems objectionable.

See also

  • Africell, mobile telecommunications company operating in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Gamtel, the Gambia Telecommunications Company.
  • Qcell, Qcell Gambia Co. Ltd., the Gambia Telecommunications Company.
  • Comium, Comium Gambia Co. Ltd., Telecommunications Company, is fully owned subsidiary of the Comium Group Luxemburg.
  • Netpage Ltd., Netpage Gambia Co. Ltd., Telecommunications Company.
  • Quantum Ltd., QuantumNet Gambia Co. Ltd., Telecommunications Company.
  • Vizocom, a global satellite internet provider with coverage in the African continent

References

  • Department Of State For Communications Information & Information Technology (DOSCIT).
  • Gamtel, Gambia Telecommunications Company.
  • Gamcel , mobile phone company.
  • Gambia Radio & Television Services (GRTS).
  • Africell Gambia, mobile phone company.