|
 President
Yahya Jammeh has launched Comium Gambia, a subsidiary of Luxembourg-based global
telecommunication giant the Comium Group at a ceremony held at its headquarters
along Kairaba Avenue.
The launch of The Gambia's latest
state-of-the-art 2.5G GSM mobile network came a day after the birthday of the
Gambian leader, which coincided with the African Liberation Day on May 25. It is
the third GSM company in mobile telephony business in the country.
The ceremony was attended by members of the
Cabinet, National Assembly members, officials of Comium Group, diplomats, staff
and well wishers of the company.
Delivering his launching statement, President
Jammeh said the inauguration of the company demonstrates his government's
commitment in encouraging private sector participation in the country's
development.
President Jammeh informed the ceremony about a
new wireless communication programme being undertaking by Gamtel and Gamcel to
promote easy access to digital facilities, as well as enhance international
gateway VSAT facilities. He said, it was envisaged that the new
Telecommunication Bill will encourage a rational liberalisation of the sector,
when it is passed by the National Assembly.
The Gambian leader confirmed receiving
information that Comium Gambia will provide access to new and innovative mobile
services with high quality coverage, affordable and accessible services to
Gambians for both local and international calls. "Comium will also introduce
services such as GPRS which will give customers the opportunity to send E-mails
and instant messages on their phones and will provide services, such as
multi-media messaging to all customers to send voice picture and video over the
network, ring back tones, and ring tones," President Jammeh added.
He said the company also intends to operate
sites in the rural areas, saying this will be of immense benefit to "our
national rural folks by a way of enabling them establish market information
system for their produce and enhance their socio-economic activities, thus,
contributing to the reduction of poverty".
He said Comium will launch "Education Fund" to
provide scholarships to needy students with high scholastic aptitude in all the
administrative regions in the country.
President Jammeh emphasised that a dynamic
private sector offers good opportunities for employment generation, enhancement
of technological transfer, increase in private capital inflows, and
diversification of economic activities.
Acknowledging that most business ventures
encounter teething problems during the initial stage of operation, the President
assured that his government will continue to provide a conducive environment
through the Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zone Agency and the Gambia
Public Utilities Regulatory Agency, among others.
For her part, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary
of State for Communication and Information Technology, described the birth of
Comium as another milestone that complements the efforts and policy objectives
of her department in a bid to implement the National Information and
Communication Infrastructure policy.
SoS Macdouall-Gaye said the event manifested
the Government's drive to widen affordable and accessible communication service
opportunities through "our policy of liberalisation and investment promotion in
realising the objectives of Vision 2020. The arrival of Comium in The Gambia
with its demonstrated performance in the West African sub-region and Asian
peninsula will no doubt increase value, variety and expertise to the industry".
According to her, having a third GSP operator
will give more choices to customers and encourage competition. She said this has
great benefits, such as tarrif reduction, better service delivery and innovative
ideas.
Ali Dalloul, Chairman of Comium Group, said
they operates in 10 countries. Mr Dalloul pointed out that the company has
focused on West Africa in the last few years to deliver high quality and voice,
and value-added services.
Amer Atwi, Managing Director of Comium Gambia,
assured that his company will offer the most efficient and the highest quality
coverage The Gambia has ever experienced.
|
