By: Isatou Sarr
The Patriotic Alliance for System Transformation and Emancipation through Functionalism (PASTEF) The Gambia has strongly rejected claims by Mr. Nyang Njie that recent developments in the telecommunications sector amount to a “price war.”
According to Mr. Mayorro Sidibeh, PRO and Communications Officer, such a description is both misleading and alarmist. He maintained that the current adjustments in data and call tariffs are the natural outcome of a liberalized market where businesses innovate to meet consumer demand.
“Telecom subscribers are not interested in corporate rivalries. Their priority is affordable prices, reliable service, and responsive customer care. No responsible operator would adopt pricing strategies that threaten long-term sustainability. What we are witnessing is constructive competition, not market instability,” Mr. Sidibeh explained.
He also stressed that the role of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) must be correctly understood. Its responsibility, he notes, is to prevent price gouging by setting reasonable ceilings, not to enforce price floors that restrict competition. Interfering in competitive pricing, he warned, risks stifling innovation and ultimately undermines consumer interests.
On the issue of taxation, PASTEF dismissed Mr. Nyang’s claim that telecom companies face an 18.5 percent tax on every gigabyte sold. Mr. Sidibeh described this as misleading, pointing out that most telecom-related taxes are borne by consumers rather than the operators themselves. He clarified that Value Added Tax at 15 percent is paid by consumers, not by the companies, while corporate tax stands at 21 percent on profits, not 25 percent as claimed. The 15 percent rental tax is the responsibility of landlords, not telecom operators, and additional levies such as the GSM levy at one percent and the sports levy at 2.5 percent are also passed on to consumers.
“It is incorrect to present these combined figures as a direct corporate cost. Doing so inflates the perceived burden on operators and distorts public understanding,” he argued.
Instead, he urged that the debate should focus on fair taxation and improved consumer service. If operators are now able to sustainably provide data at prices below D50 per gigabyte, he said, it only shows that past inefficiencies or inflated margins are being corrected rather than companies running at a loss.
In conclusion, PASTEF reaffirms that there is no “telecom price war.” Rather, what is unfolding is a long-overdue shift toward competitive, consumer-focused pricing a development the party described as a healthy sign of the market finally working in the interest of Gambians.
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