Africell Gambia is set to introduce the prefix 87 to customers’ existing mobile numbers as the country begins its nationwide transition from seven-digit to nine-digit telephone numbers.
The change takes effect at midnight on September 4, 2026, under a national numbering reform overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).
The new system is intended to significantly increase The Gambia’s numbering capacity—from roughly 10 million possible numbers under the existing system to as many as one billion. Authorities say the expansion will provide sufficient capacity to support the continued growth of telecommunications and digital services.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the transition, Africell Gambia Chief Executive Officer Hussein Diab Ghanem said the migration would be implemented gradually to minimise inconvenience to customers.
The first stage begins at midnight with a dual-numbering period, during which both the current seven-digit numbers and the new nine-digit versions will remain operational.
However, Ghanem warned that customers could begin noticing changes when registering accounts, activating services or using new devices. Digital platforms such as WhatsApp are expected to send verification codes to customers using their new nine-digit numbers.
International communication could also experience temporary disruptions as telecommunications companies outside The Gambia update their systems to accommodate the new numbering format.
“This thing doesn’t only affect The Gambia because, as you know, the world is a global village; we are all interconnected,” Ghanem said, adding that Africell had already informed its international roaming partners about the change.
To make the transition easier, Africell has developed a Contact Updater feature that will assist customers in converting Gambian numbers stored in their phone contacts into the new nine-digit format.
The tool will be made available through Africell’s mobile application, with an updated version expected in app stores by Monday. Ghanem said the conversion would happen directly on customers’ devices and that Africell would not download or collect their contact lists.
Addressing concerns about public preparedness, Ghanem said he expected Gambians to adjust relatively quickly. He pointed to the country’s increasing dependence on digital services and said younger people could help older family members and others who may struggle initially with the change.
“It has come to a point that we don’t have a choice anymore,” he said. “If we don’t do it, we are going to be left behind.”
The transition period is expected to continue until December 1, during which both seven-digit and nine-digit numbers will remain functional.
After that date, customers will have to use the nine-digit format for calls and other telecommunications services.
For Africell subscribers, the change is relatively straightforward: their existing seven-digit numbers will remain unchanged, with 87 added to the beginning to create the new nine-digit number.
