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The Gambia

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Internet Connectivity
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Full high speed Internet (FI) came to the Gambia in late 1998. Before that a 9.6 Kbps link named GamNet operated by Gamtel, the national telecom,  served as the main Internet system. In early 1997, Commit Enterprises Ltd. started operating a reliable PoP mail UUZIP mailbag system (dial-up every 30 min.) until late 1998 when the World Bank/UNDP supported gateway project was completed and made available for potential Internet Service Providers. The gateway is a complete satellite system from Gamtel's satellite station in Abuko, The Gambia, to Teleglobe in Canada.The satellite link speed is 512 Kbit with a 2 MBit in-country line-speed with local access nodes in strategic towns. (Source: The Gambia Network Information Centre & Domain Registry).

Three Internet Service Providers are currently offering services in the Gambia:

Gamtel (Gambia Telecommunications Company)

Gamtel, the national telecom, has access nodes in the major towns in The Gambia. It provides standard PoP3 and TCP/IP access for single customers and cooperation/organisations. It is also The Gambia gateway system administrator.

Charges at Gamtel:   Dalasi 230 (US$ 19.60) per month, flat fee for unlimited access. Installation fee is currently D50 (US$ 4.26). Local telephone charges apply: D10-13 (US$ 0.85-1.11) per hour.

Quantum (Quantum Associates Company Ltd.)

Quantum is a private sector ISP providing standard PoP3 and TCP/IP access for single customers and corporations/organisations using a 128 Kbit link from the gateway to Quantum access servers.

Charges at Quantum:  Dalasi 200 (US$ 17.05) per month, flat fee for unlimited access. Installation fee is currently D50 (US$ 4.26). Local telephone charges apply: D10-13 (US$ 0.85-1.11) per hour.

MRC (Medical Research Center)

MRC is a medical research facility offering standard PoP3 and TCP/IP access using a 128 Kbit link from the gateway to MRC access servers for a selected number of customers (health sector related)

No monthly charges apply for medical personnel.

Internet host sites: 15 (2000)

Internet subscribers (1999):

  • Total: 150
  • Subscribers per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.26

Internet Users (1999):

  • Total: 4,000
  • Users per 10,000 inhabitants: 31.55

Internet use by categories:

  • Commercial:
  • Academic:
  • Research:
  • NGO/UN/International:
  • Government:
  • Others:

Internet bandwidth (Kbps): 512

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