The Gambia: ICT Sector &
Data Collection
Matarr Touray
PURA
Presentation Outline
Key Statistics
Penetration
2G & 3G Services
Rationale for Data Collection
Data Collection in The Gambia
Challenges
Way Forward
18/11/2009
Key Statistics 2012 2013 2014
Fixed Line
Operators 1 1 1
Mobile Operators 4 4 4
ISPs 5 5 5
Fixed Line
Subscriptions 64,196 50,334 47,540
Mobile
Subscriptions 1,526,181 1,986,490 2,159,099
Fixed Internet
Subscriptions 3,112 2,501 3,200
Mobile Internet
Subscriptions 127,809 157,488 308,393
Status of Submarine Cables in The
Gambia
Cable
Name
Landing
Point
Design
Capacity
Allocated
Capacity
(GAMBIA)
Launch
Date
Est. Cable
Cost
ACE Brusubi 5.12 Tb/s 10 Gb/s Dec. 2012 US$
35,000,000
DYNAMIC
COUNTRY!!
Fixed Lines Subscription
64,196
50,334
47,540
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
2012 2013 2014
Fixed Subscriptions
2012
2013
2014
Mobile Subscriptions
SUBSCRIPTIONS
9% increase in
Subscriptions
2013 -2014
SUB. Growth Rate
1,526,181
1,986,490
2,159,099
-
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
2012 2013 2014
Active Subscriptions - Mobile
2012
2013
2014
Fixed & Mobile Internet
Subscription
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2012 2013 2014
Data
Su
bscri
bers
Mobile Data Subscribers
3G
GPRS
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
2012 2013 2014
Fixed Internet Subscribers
2012
2013
2014
Postpaid vs Prepaid
Subscriptions
99.35%
0.65%
99.55%
0.45%
Prepaid
Postpaid
2012 Prepaid and Postpaid
Subscriptions
2013 Prepaid and Postpaid
Subscriptions
99.70%
0.30%
2014 Prepaid and Postpaid
Subscriptions
Operator Growth
18/11/2009
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Q1-2015
Mobile Customers
GAMCEL AFRICELL COMIUM QCELL
Mobile Penetration
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Fixed
African Avg.Fixed
Mobile
African Avg.Mobile
Total
2G & 3G Mobile Services
Population Coverage (Very High) 96%
Connections over 2.5m
Market Penetration
120%
African Avg -72%
3G Penetration
8-10%
Annual Growth Rate >22%
Tariffs & Revenue per minute 83% O/G = On-Net Voice tariff = GMD 3 per minute (7.5 cents US$) Revenue per minute = GMD 1-1.5 / minute
(i.e., Discounts 50%)
ARPU US$ (2.00 - 2.50)
Rationale for Data Collection
Market Assessment
Fastest growing sector
Market Comparisons
Competition Considerations
Need for Reliable Statistics
Evidenced Based Policy Making
Targeted Interventions
ICT Sector Growth
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
%
Growth Rates in Regulated Sectors
Communication
Electricity, Gas and Water
GDP Growth
ICT Data Collection in The
Gambia
PURA
GBOS •Surveys
•National Census
•National Accounts
Consumers •Tariffs •Education
MOICI •Policy Making
•Universal Service
•New Investment
Operators •Appraisal
•Competition
•Market Trends
Data Collection
E-mail based platform with focal points
Quarterly Submissions
Data submitted to Economics Department
Data submission only by recognized focal person
Responsible for Data Validation
Identified Gaps
Correlations with previous periods
Flexible mechanism to allow for Data correction
e.g Active Subscribers
Market Surveys
Prohibitive due to Financial Constraints
Relies on Census Data for Internet Usage etc. GBOS
Infrequent Time Period (10 Years)
Dynamic Sector
PURA initiatives Quality of Experience Survey
Growth Centers
Actual Customer Perception
Deviates from QOS
Challenges
Challenges to be expected in most Data
Collection exercises Two Public Sector Operators (GAMTEL & GAMCEL)
Timeliness & Accuracy of Submissions by both
Frequent Back & Forth delaying updating of Statistics
Operators Understanding of Some Indicators
Private Operators understand the importance of the
Collection
Indicator Definitions especially for Mobile Broadband.
(GPRS vs 3G, Dedicated Mobile Data Subs)
Data Collection – Way Forward
Develop Online Data Collection Tool Hosted on www.pura.gm
Log-in Credentials provided to Operators Electronically signed after submission
Identified focal Persons
Data may-be modified before deadlines
Immediate Back-end Comparisons between services
Develop accompanying Android & iOS Apps ICT Indicators Portal
Public Consumption
Conducting First Market Assessment Study
THANK YOU