The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has pushed back the deadline for ending the use of The Gambia’s seven-digit mobile numbers to February 28, 2027, citing the upcoming electoral period and the end-of-year holiday season.
The extension means the old seven-digit numbers will continue to operate alongside the new nine-digit format for several more months, giving individuals, businesses and public institutions additional time to adjust to the country’s new national numbering plan.
PURA Director General Dr. Njogu Bah announced the decision at a news conference, saying it followed consultations with key stakeholders.
“Having given due consideration to the electoral period and the end-of-year holiday season and following consultations with key stakeholders, the authority has decided to extend the hard cutoff date to February 28, 2027,” Dr. Bah said.
The regulator also moved to address concerns surrounding the participation of the state-owned telecommunications operator GAMCEL in the numbering transition.
Dr. Bah said GAMCEL had not been excluded from the process and was not being left behind. Instead, he explained that the company would enter the migration under a second phase after meeting the necessary technical, operational and customer-readiness requirements.
Under the new nine-digit numbering plan, PURA has allocated the 89 prefix to GAMCEL. The prefix will provide the state-owned operator with dedicated numbering capacity once it begins its transition.
According to Dr. Bah, PURA will continue working closely with GAMCEL to test its systems, prepare subscribers and ensure that the eventual migration takes place safely and without unnecessary disruption.
Despite the extension, PURA has urged consumers not to delay adopting the new nine-digit numbers. The regulator stressed that the continued operation of seven-digit numbers is only a temporary arrangement.
The revised timetable means the final cutoff will now come on February 28, 2027. From that date, consumers will be required to use the nine-digit numbering format for calls and other telecommunications services.
