By: Cecilia E.L. Mendy
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on Tuesday announced that The Gambia will migrate from its current seven-digit telephone numbering system to a standardised nine-digit format from September 2026 to accommodate growing demand for telecommunications services.
Announcing the new numbering plan, PURA Director General Nyogou L. Bah described the transition as a major milestone in the country’s telecommunications sector.
“For the first time in the history of The Gambia, every telephone number will move from the current seven-digit format to a standardised nine-digit format,” Bah said.
He explained that the existing numbering plan, introduced during the early years of mobile telecommunications in the country, is nearing its capacity due to population growth, increased mobile phone penetration and the expansion of digital services, including machine-to-machine communications and the Internet of Things.
Bah said PURA reviewed the country’s numbering resources in consultation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and telecommunications regulators within the ECOWAS region before adopting the new plan.
According to him, the transition will not require subscribers to replace their SIM cards, mobile phones or service providers. Instead, users will only need to dial and save telephone numbers in the new nine-digit format.
The new numbering system will become operational on 4 September 2026, when calls and text messages using the nine-digit format will be accepted.
Bah said a transition period would allow subscribers to update their contact lists and systems before the old numbering format is phased out.
He added that from 30 November 2026, calls and text messages using the current seven-digit numbers will no longer be processed, with only nine-digit numbers remaining valid.
PURA Director of Consumer Affairs Jamilatou Saidy said the Authority has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate consumers about the transition.
She said the sensitisation programme will include community outreach activities and digital communication platforms, while ensuring that persons with disabilities are also reached.
Bah said the national numbering plan is a sovereign national resource managed by PURA on behalf of the Government of The Gambia and noted that all licensed telecommunications operators are required to implement the new numbering system and inform their subscribers of the changes.
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