Policy Statement
Republic of Gambia

Mr. Chairman,
Colleague Ministers and Heads of Delegations,
Secretary General, ITU,
Your Excellencies, Distinguishes Delegates

I wish to first of all extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Government and people of Mexico for the warm and cordial hospitality accorded me and my delegation. I would also like to congratulate the Chairman of the Conference for his appointment to steer this Conference.

Mr. Chairman, the Government of The Gambia under the dynamic leadership of our dear President, Sheikh Professor Alh. Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh, recognizes the pivotal role ITU plays in shaping the global communications landscape of our universe. The holding of the Connect the World initiatives and the Global Telecommunication Symposium among others are significant milestones that have contributed in not only laying the foundation but increasing ICT uptake and reach. ICTs are helping shape our peoples lives and facilitate development in mostly our developing nations and broadening opportunities for our present and future generations.

In The Gambia, we have made significant strides in making communication services available and accessible to our people. Our internet backbone has been strengthened through a cross border terrestrial link with Senegal to access capacity on SAT-3 submarine cable. We are participating in the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine system in our pursuit to have our own landing station with direct access to 22 other countries from France to South Africa. This project which is expected to complete in the first half of 2012 will enhance our infrastructure and reach and also make communication more reliable and affordable. We have 4 mobile operators that have covered over 85% of our country with total subscriber base of over a million people within a population of just over 1.6 million.

Mr. Chairman, my delegation wish to recognize the significant strides ITU has taken to make sure the potentials of new technological developments are continually explored and their adoption maximized for the benefit of all and sundry. In that regard, we call on the ITU to further consolidate and extend its work, support and assistance to member states especially developing and small island states in the area of digital migration, cyber security and capacity building. We are aware that considerable efforts are being made in these areas through the development of guidelines for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, the initiatives in combating cybercrime and the harmonization of policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Also my delegation would like to call on ITU, member states and sector members to further explore, collaborate and intensify efforts in addressing Internet Governance issues, ICTs and climate change and development of an ITU mark considered at WTSA-08 for the certification of ITU Standards compliant equipment and materials.

At this juncture Mr. Chairman, I would like to highlight the significant progress being made in the area of infrastructure development and advancement of broadband in the African continent. The advent of submarine cables like EASSy, SEACOM and TEAMS on the East Coast and the likes of ACE, Glo, MainOne, and WACS on the West of Africa have recorded the progress being made to address Goal-1 of the Connect Africa goals. We must recognize that this was made possible through public-private partnerships including Governments, Banks and other private investors. I therefore, call on ITU and member states to continue creating the enabling environment to nurture this new partnership.

In as much as we develop the international access infrastructure in AFRICA, there is still the need to explore the possibilities of providing access for landlocked countries to submarine cable stations. The need to facilitate terrestrial cross border links to provide backhaul to cable landing stations especially for landlocked countries requires sub-regional, regional and international policy and regulatory interventions. We must endeavour to eradicate the cross border hurdles and national laws hindering such developments.

Mr. Chairman, if you may recall, Resolution 146 (Antalya 06) was adopted at PP06 to set out the process for the review of the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs). This was considered at the World Telecommunication Forum 2009 in Lisbon, Portugal and the WTDC-10 in Hyderabad, India. My delegation believes that it’s high time to review the ITRs taking into consideration the numerous developments that changed the dynamics and basis of such regulations made since 1988.

I thank you all for your kind attention and wish you a successful and fruitful Conference proceedings and productive deliberations over the coming weeks in the common interest of the ITU fraternity.