President Yahya Jammeh on Saturday launched a new GSM network as part of activities marking his 42nd birthday anniversary. COMIUM Company Limited situated along Kairaba Avenue opposite Elton Kairaba filling station operates the network.

In his inaugural speech, President Jammeh said the coming of COMIUM into the mobile service industry demonstrates his government's commitment to encourage the participation of the private sector in the development of the country. The President added that in a bid to promote Telecommunication Technology, Gamtel and Gamcel have already embarked on a new wireless communication program aimed at promoting easy access to digital facilities as well as the enhancement of international gateway facilities. President Jammeh said that COMIUM's objective to cover rural areas would be of immense benefit to rural communities. This he hoped would help establish “market information systems for their produce and enhance their socio-economic activities thus contributing to the reduction of poverty.

The Secretary of State for Communications and Information Technology Neneh Macdouall-Gaye described the launching of the operation, which is the third GSM operator in the Gambia as a remarkable achievement in government's efforts to bring Gambians a variety of choice in addition encourage affordable, and cost effective services in a competitive environment. She spoke of government's commitment to ensure a level playing field in which all operators are given equal opportunities. SOS Macdouall-Gaye hoped that as COMIUM embarks on a countrywide coverage it would help bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Neneh Macdouall-Gaye said that the government of the Gambia through her department has liberalized the communication sector to encourage competition. SOS Macdouall-Gaye also urged operators to ensure that interconnection prevails in a non-discriminatory and fair manner so that customers enjoy uninterrupted access to all the networks. She emphasised that interconnection access is a right and not a privilege. She said in collaboration with the public utilities regulatory authority PURA her department would ensure interconnectivity prevails, failure of which stringent punitive action would be taken.

The chairman COMIUM board Mr Ali Dallout said COMIUM is an international group present in 10 countries offering GSM, internet and value added services. He said that COMIUM is bringing to the Gambia 15 years of telecommunication hoping to project the country as a leading position in the sub-region. COMIUM director Mr Amer Atuli said COMIUM would provide efficient and quality service.