The minister of Communication and Digital Economy Ousman Bah has promised to address the country’s high internet cost in two years.

The Gambia has one of the most expensive mobile internet charges in Africa.

It is ranked eighth in Africa as the countries with the most expensive average usage of mobile data with $5.86 per gigabyte, according to Business Insider Africa. 

But the minister said he is working to address the high cost of internet charges. 

He said: “After securing the second submarine landing station and after getting the partnership with Gamtel to roll out the broadband wireless which we are talking about for maybe 18 to 24 months this would definitely help to reduce the cost of internet. 

“It’s not just the cost but also the speed. Definitely, two years from now it will be better than what we have right now, let me put it in that way.”

Bah added: “I think when it comes to the internet speed, we need to definitely expand broadband wireless. That is a key and I want Gamtel to be the backbone of that and also encourage the GSMs to expand to the rural areas.”

Mr Bah was appointed to the newly created Communication and Digital Economy ministry in June to help boost e-commerce and digital innovation in the country.

He was formerly the chief executive officer of the Indian Institute of Hardware Technology (IIHT) Gambia Limited.

“When we have a national data centre, e-governance and e-commerce and all these private sectors and government sectors, we can host their data in this country and also sell their services outside, he said. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba