From: All Africa

By Omar Wally

The Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) on Tuesday held a first ever National consultative forum with Internet cafes operators and other stakeholders on the regulation of cyber cafes in the Gambia, at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi. PURA under section 10 (1) (b) of the information and communications act 2009, is required to ensure that no person provides an information and communication services in the country without the prior authorisation of the authority. The objective of the guidelines is to provide a framework that governs the establishment, operation and maintenance of internet/cyber cafes and other similar establishments within the Gambia.

The primary objectives of the forum are to strengthen the protection of children online, regulation of the retail end of the internet and the power of collective barging for proprietors of internet café owners amongst others .

Solo Sima, director of Consumer affairs PURA, stressed that legal, technical and institutional challenges posed by the issues of cyber security are global and far-reaching and that can only be addressed through a coherent strategy taking into account the role of all actors, within a framework of collaborative efforts. He noted that the realisation of Vision 2020 to some extent is anchored on maximizing the catalytic role of ICT in socio-economic development. Sima added that ICT has become a strategic resource and the foundation of most economic activities both at individual and institutional level. He said some ten, twenty years ago, no one would have envisioned the level of advancement they are witnessing in ICT across the globe.

He further disclosed that a World Bank report indicated that for every 10 percent increase in broadband penetration, a country’s economy grows by 2.5 to 3 percent. “ICT sector for example currently contributes 5 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, [and] this is a situation that the Gambia government would want to see improve for the better,” he added. Sima said as aresut of the above mentioned operators have been issued international data gateway licenses to provide and offer broadband services, but he noted that access to internet and data services still requires further improvement in many parts of the country. Sompo Ceesay, the director of energy at PURA, stated that few months ago, certain internet cafes offer services which contravene some of the current policies. He further recalled that the matter prompted a press release from the utility regulator some time ago which was misunderstood by many and noted that with forums like this, they can discuss and address the issues amilcably.

“We felt that bringing [internet] cafes together- were many access their internet connection despite the penetration of mobile internets, is important,” said Ceesay, adding that there is the need to prevent minors from accessing adults’ sites on the net. Alasana Tunkara the Customer Care manager of Qcell stressed that running a cyber café is never been easy in the country and commended the operators for taking the business risk. He however reminded the cyber café operators to understand that PURA is working in the interest of everyone, hence the need for cyber café operators to be cautious of the regulatory measures in place.