The Gambia is currently facing a digital crisis that no amount of diplomatic “exploration” can hide. While President Adama Barrow speaks of a “Digital Gambia,” the reality on the ground is a frustrating mix of exorbitant data costs, frequent fibre cuts, and a median fixed-line download speed that barely reaches 5.66-6.06 Mbps.
But there is a solution sitting on a desk in Banjul. It has been there for over a year.
The Paid License No One Can See
In December 2024, Starlink—the satellite internet giant already operating in 29 African nations, including Senegal and Guinea-Bissau—paid its licensing fees to the Gambian government. The terms were agreed upon. The money was received. Yet, as of February 2026, the service remains dark, with no update or timeline.
The only step left, according to Starlink, is the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy’s signature. The government keeps the payment but offers no explanation, update, or timeline. The bottleneck? A single signature from the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Ousman Bah.The High Cost of Silence for SMEs.
This is not just a bureaucratic delay — it’s a national setback. Gambians continue to pay some of the highest internet costs in West Africa, with unstable connections that often drop during the workday. According to World Bank data, only 22% of Gambians have consistent internet access, compared to around 46% in Senegal.
Every lost hour of connectivity slows small businesses, schools, and government services. For a local fashion company in The Gambia trying to run an international e-commerce platform, “slow internet” isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a lost sale. When a website takes 30 seconds to load a high-resolution image of a garment, the customer in London or New York has already clicked away.
Poor connectivity affects our SMEs in three devastating ways:
1. Market Exclusion: Without stable high-speed internet, Gambian entrepreneurs cannot reliably access global marketplaces like Etsy, Shopify, or international payment gateways.
2. Operational Waste: Businesses pay some of the highest rates in the region—roughly 11% of average monthly income for basic broadband—for a service that fails every time a road construction crew nicks a fibre cable.
3. Brain Drain: Our tech-savvy youth are being “digitally exiled.” They have the talent to code, design, and innovate, but they lack the tools to compete.
The Real Cost Of This Delay!
Behind every dropped WhatsApp or video call, and every failed transaction, are young Gambians trying to build livelihoods in a digital world that keeps moving without them. We talk about innovation and entrepreneurship, but without proper internet access, those words are empty.
Countries like Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau are already benefiting from Starlink’s entry, expanding online education and rural connectivity. The Gambia could have been part of that success story over a year ago. Instead, it remains stuck — not because technology failed us, but because of a political decision that no one will explain.
Who Gains From Keeping Gambians Offline?
When the government blocks a superior, affordable satellite internet service, we must ask: Cui bono? (Who benefits?)
Is the delay protecting the monopoly of struggling state-owned enterprises? Is it simply a failure of leadership? Every day the Minister withholds his signature is a day the Gambian consumer is forced to overpay for underperforming internet.
Let’s ask the questions that matter.
● Why is the Minister of Communications refusing to sign?
● Who benefits from blocking competition?
● And who loses the most from this silence?
The telecommunications market in The Gambia is small and tightly controlled. For years, consumers have paid inflated prices for poor service because there’s no real competition. The entry of Starlink threatens the comfort of that monopoly. But protecting a few vested interests while millions of Gambians struggle to connect is unjustifiable.
A Wake-Up Call To The Minister!
Honourable Minister, the license file is already on your desk. The fees are paid. The legal conditions are satisfied. Sign it.
• Sign it for the students who can’t access online classes during power cuts.
• Sign it for the small business owners who dream of exporting Gambian creativity to the world.
• Sign it for the hospitals and rural clinics that could finally consult specialists abroad.
Every day of delay keeps The Gambia disconnected — not just technically, but economically.
The Digital Future Won’t Wait!
Digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the backbone of growth, jobs, and education. If the government truly believes in empowering youth and fostering innovation, it must act transparently and decisively.
The Gambia’s future cannot depend on who has exclusive access to the internet. That future belongs to the people — the entrepreneurs, the learners, the dreamers — who deserve a fair chance to connect. The minister’s pen could change that in a single stroke.
