Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFCRJ, and Team Gom Sa Bopa (together “The Coalition”) at a press conference called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to suspend its new internet tariff known as the Price Floor and allow the GSM operators to compete.
On the 19th of August 2025, PURA announced the introduction of a price floor of GMD 50 per gigabyte, claiming to have reinforced quality-of-service (QoS) standards to safeguard consumers from the negative consequences of the recent data tariff “price war.”
This price floor received widespread condemnation from Gambians, with some calling on PURA to call it off.
On 22nd August 2025, Gambians gathered at the parking lot of PURA to peacefully demand the suspension of the newly imposed price floor.
The plan was to read out a petition and collect as many signatures as possible. But that never happened due to the presence of Security officers led by PIU Commander Lamin Sarr, who stormed the protest, arresting demonstrators with force.
For up to six days, 44 youths who were peacefully demanding the suspension of the new tariff were detained in various police stations and at the notorious Mile II Central Prison.
However, the petition that the youths were denied the chance to present to PURA is available online, where over one thousand people have signed it.
“For years, Gambians have endured some of the highest internet costs in the sub-region, with little meaningful regulation from PURA. Just as consumers finally began benefiting from competition through cheaper internet packages, PURA has chosen to act against the public interest and in favour of GSM companies,” Omar Saibo Camara, Spokesperson of GALA, told Journalists.
Mr. Camara said this is the reasonTeam Gom Sa Bopa, EFSCRJ, and GALA are protesting against PURA’s unprecedented decision to impose an anti-competitive price floor of D50 per 1GB.
Mr. Camara stated that this price floor abruptly ended the tariff wars that saw GSM operators offering promotional data bundles for as low as D13.33 per 1GB. He said by enforcing this hike, PURA has increased the cost of data by up to 275%, placing an enormous burden on Gambian consumers.
The GALA Spokesperson reminds PURA that, under Section 13 of the PURA Act, its primary duty is “to protect the interests of consumers and public utilities and monitor and enforce standards of performance by Public Utilities.”
Mr. Camara said Instead, PURA’s decision prioritises GSM companies at the expense of consumers, undermining affordability without guaranteeing improvements in quality.
“We strongly believe that this price floor will only make internet access more expensive, without delivering better services,” he said.
The Coalition welcomed what they described as the timely intervention of the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), which has condemned PURA’s anticompetitive decision and called for its immediate suspension.
The GCCPC emphasised that the recent tariff wars provided much-needed relief, driving data prices to their lowest levels ever and making them more affordable for vulnerable consumers and small businesses.
The Demands of GALA, EFSCRJ, Team Gom Sa Bopa
The GALA Spokesperson said the Coalition will submit its petition formally immediately after the press conference to suspend the price floor and heed the joint demands of both the Coalition and the GCCPC.
“PURA claims its decision is guided by a regional benchmark, citing an African average of USD1 per GB, equivalent to GMD 71 and promised to publish the cost model underpinning this policy. To date, neither the benchmark details nor the cost model has been made public,” Mr. Camara challenged PURA.
Mr. Camara also told Journalists that the coalition is demanding that PURA immediately publish these documents on its official platforms to allow the public to independently verify whether this decision truly serves the “public interest” and reflects ”transparency and accountability” as claimed.
He said the coalition is of the informed view that the disadvantages of PURA’s policy are severe, citing that low-income Gambians, particularly students, women, and rural communities, risk being pushed offline, deepening the digital divide.
The GALA Spokesperson said students who rely on affordable data for research, e-learning, and communication will lose access to vital educational resources.
“Young Gambians working in freelancing, tech, and creative industries will be locked out of global opportunities, stifling innovation and job creation,” he said.
Civic Engagement and Governance, Mr. Camara believes that citizens’ ability to access news, monitor government activity, and participate in civic life online will be severely undermined.
Mr. Camara said If PURA truly intended to protect the public interest, it would have pursued a price ceiling-to-cap costs, while demanding improved service quality from GSM companies.
He said PURA instead has chosen a regressive path that, as the GCCPC notes, “punishes consumers instead of addressing structural and investment issues within the sector.”
“Consumer protection must be rooted in fairness, equity, and justice. The real test of regulation is how well it safeguards the most vulnerable, not how comfortably it serves the interests of a few powerful companies,” he said.
