New GSM Network for Gambia
Comium Gambia, a subsidiary of Luxembourg-based, Comium Group has announced the launch of its GSM network in the country. The service will be marketed under the "Nakam" brand name. Present in West Africa, Comium has built a strong position for itself in Liberia and Sierra Leone and is on the verge of launching operations in the Cote d'Ivoire.
"Our strategy involves the acquisition of new licenses across West and Central Africa, in countries where mobile phone and Internet penetration is still limited and where we feel we can bring tangible, sustained value to subscribers," explains Comium Group Chairman Dr. Nizar Dalloul. Entering the Gambian market as the third telecommunications operator will be a challenge but it is one that Dr. Amer Atwi, director of operations at Comium Gambia, welcomes.
"We believe our success so far has been due to being able to blend in to our environments, offering the kinds of services that West Africans need and want, and then providing them in a way that is familiar and a pleasure to use," he explains. "We are offering better coverage, better value and better services. Nakam will increase competition, forcing existing services to improve to catch up. It will also create new employment opportunities. All of this is positive for the Gambia and for Gambian subscribers."
The two incumbent operators, Gambia Telecom and Africell have roughly equal shares of the market at the moment, and share some 427,000 customers according to statistics from The Mobile World."
Posted to the site on 4th June 2007
