By Kemo Kanyi
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has explained the absence of Gamcel from the first phase of The Gambia’s migration to a nine-digit National Numbering Plan, saying the state-owned operator is expected to join the process in a second phase.
PURA Director General Dr. Njogou L. Bah made the clarification on Friday during a press conference at the Authority’s head office along Kairaba Avenue.
Bah said the first phase involved telecommunications operators that were technically ready to undertake the migration, while stressing that Gamcel’s participation had been planned from the beginning.
“The first phase, in which we are announcing the successful completion, involved the operators that were technically ready to undertake the migration at this stage,” he said.
He added that PURA had reserved the 89 prefix for Gamcel under the new National Numbering Plan.
According to Bah, the allocation was a deliberate regulatory decision intended to provide Gamcel with dedicated numbering resources within the new nine-digit system and ensure that the operator has a clearly identifiable numbering range for its eventual migration.
Bah assured the public that Gamcel’s position within the new numbering architecture was protected and that PURA would continue working with the company to address the technical, operational and customer-readiness requirements necessary for the migration.
He said the authority would provide regulatory coordination and technical support to facilitate Gamcel’s successful integration into the new numbering environment.
The PURA director general said the authority recognized Gamcel’s importance to the national telecommunications sector and wanted the company to be fully integrated into the new numbering system.
He said PURA would ensure that Gamcel’s systems were properly tested and that its customers were adequately informed before the operator migrates.
“The ultimate act is a National Numbering Plan, not the numbering plan of one operator or another,” Bah said, adding that all operators had a role to play in ensuring a smooth transition.
He said PURA’s responsibility was to ensure that the telecommunications sector moved forward together and that the migration was conducted safely and successfully.