Gambia’s telecom sector is facing a pricing crisis as mobile data costs plunge to unprecedented lows, prompting alarm from regulators and industry leaders.
The situation began in 2023 when Comium launched aggressive promotions, cutting prices by up to 80% below market rates. This sparked a fierce price war, with Africell and QCell slashing their own rates even further—some packages now sell for just GMD 5 for 500MB. In some cases, bundles are being offered at a third of Comium’s already reduced prices.
While many consumers have welcomed the cheap data, the ongoing battle is straining networks, reducing service quality, and raising serious questions about the sector’s financial health. Mobile data usage has skyrocketed, but so have complaints about congestion and slow speeds.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is reportedly worried about the broader economic fallout. The telecom sector contributes roughly 15% of Gambia’s total tax revenue, and industry experts warn that the current race to the bottom could harm investment, hinder innovation, and eventually leave customers with worse services.
Calls are growing for PURA to step in—potentially by introducing a “tariff floor,” a minimum price designed to keep competition fair while ensuring operators remain financially stable. Without intervention, insiders fear the current trend could destabilize the entire industry.
For now, Gambia holds the global record for the lowest mobile data prices—a title that may thrill consumers today but could damage the country’s digital future tomorrow.
