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The Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia is facing significant public backlash after announcing a new data regulation that has surprised many consumers already dealing with inadequate service.
Since the start of the summer holiday, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators in The Gambia have been providing special pricing on their internet data services, a move that many users appreciate despite the ongoing poor internet quality.
The country has four GSM operators: Gamcell (National Telecom), Africell, Qcell, and Comium, all of which offered 12GB for D130 during the summer, a price that would typically cost customers D1,120 for regular service.
The 12 GB plan, previously available for D130 for 7 days, is now priced at D600 for the same duration, despite GSM operators initially promising it would last throughout the summer holiday.
Read several articles about this here and here.
Public outcry following the new data regulation has been intense
Since PURA announced this new data regulation, there has been widespread public condemnation. Many have described the action as one that discourages fair competition among companies and forces customers to accept unfair pricing.
These criticisms have come from public officials, opposition politicians, journalists, civil society organisations, and the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC).
The GCCPC has denounced the increase and joined the public in urging PURA to reconsider its decision and allow companies to compete on pricing.
The agency said in a statement, “Such regulatory interventions risk undermining the gains of open market rivalry, where businesses compete on price, quality, and service innovation to the benefit of consumers.”
The commission further characterised this approach as regressive and disproportionately detrimental to vulnerable consumers.
The United Democratic Party, the country’s main opposition party, has criticised the decision, claiming it undermines consumer rights and encourages corporate exploitation.
“PURA has shamefully opted to act as a shield for GSM companies,” the party stated in a Tuesday announcement.
Under this new rule, PURA asserts that no operator in The Gambia can charge more than D50 for 1GB of data; however, this comes when Comium charges D50 for 1.5GB without any ongoing promotions.
While other GSM operators charge D950 for 10GB, Comium charges D190 for the same 10GB.
With the implementation of the new pricing by PURA, even Comium, which was considered the most affordable data option, is now compelled to charge around D600 for 10GB.
“So, whose interest is PURA protecting?” questioned Lamin Sanyang, a customer, stating that the new price regulation does not serve consumers’ interests.
“PURA is only favouring certain companies, because since Comium resumed operations, we have been enjoying the cheapest data,” he added.
Madi Jobarteh, a human rights activist, condemned the new data regulation and urged PURA to reconsider its decision.
Abdoulie Jawo, a seasoned journalist, said PURA’s decision lacks tangible evidence of protecting customers’ interests.
“If you’re a regulatory body, you should base many of your actions on consultation with the public you claim to serve. This so-called revenue collection for a so-called government is baseless. For example, Comium Gambia has been selling data at a very reasonable price for a year plus, and neither they nor their customers have complained,” he reacted.
What is PURA saying?
PURA claims it is enforcing a new regulation limiting how much mobile operators can charge for data.
Additionally, they claimed that the new regulation protects customers against overpricing, ensures fair pricing, and maintains governance revenue gains.
After posting two statements on their Facebook account explaining their position, PURA’s comment section was bombarded with outrage as customers criticised the decision.
Read the complete statements here and here.
Below is a screenshot of the statement PURA shared on Facebook
Why are people complaining?
The Gambia is among the countries in West Africa with the most expensive data, unreliable services, and poor connectivity.
Over the years, many people have complained about the high cost of data and poor connectivity across the country, which they say PURA has ignored.
PURA’s decision has prompted the Team Gom Sa Bopa (Believe In Yourself) and Gambian Against Looted Assets (GALA), a youth-led pressure group renowned for its anti-corruption efforts, to stage a protest on Friday, 22nd August, at the agency’s premises, despite police warnings against unauthorized protests. The police on Friday arrested several protesters.
Many countries’ users began to experience cheap data when Comium was launched. However, this company was out of service after PURA suspended its license in September 2021 for failing to pay license and spectrum fees in 2020 and 2021.
After months of suspension, the company returned to operation in 2022 under new investors.
The company has been at the forefront in selling the cheapest data in recent years, selling 1.5 GB for D50 while other GSM providers were selling the same 1.5 GB for approximately D145, which has triggered the recent data war among GSM operators.
