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The Department of State for Communication, Information and Information Technology (DOSCIT), in conjunction with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), announced a reduction in interconnection rates between mobile and fixed operators.
DOSCIT and PURA announced that interconnection rates between all telecom operators would be reduced from US$ 0.11 / 0.09 to US$ 0.05 per minute, by October 8. There will be a second phase of reductions no later than April 8, 2009, as the intention is to reduce charges from US$ 0.05 to US$ 0.02. Since the international gateway is not sufficiently competitive yet, interconnection rates for international calls will remain unchanged, officials said.
Fatim Badjie-Janneh, the secretary of state at DOSCIT, said that her department, as the principal policy maker in the sector, and PURA, as the regulatory authority responsible for policy implementation, recognise that interconnection rates were too high.
According to Badjie-Janneh, the rate reduction demonstrates that her department and PURA share a common interest in policies that benefit consumers. She noted that both institutions agreed that in matters such as interconnection, the aim must always be to create low charges.
For his part, Alagie Gaye, the director-general of PURA, described the development as another milestone in regulatory practice in The Gambia, noting that they were acting under the mandate of the PURA Act 2001. He revealed that his institution determined that interconnection rates between the four operators could come down, following a study conducted by an ITU consultant. He added that the final decision was based on the report’s recommendations, which suggested that the all operators rates should be unified and lowered in phases to a target rate of US$ 0.02 per minute. Source: The Daily Observer - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.
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