His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh's drive to transform The Gambia into an economic and financial centre within the sub-region, has seen another giant step with the introduction of digital satellite broadcasting for the national broadcaster, The Gambia Radio and Television Services. This $9.5 million project has put The Gambia on the world map of digital broadcasting ushering in a new era in the history of broadcasting in the tiny West African nation.

The signals are free to air reception and viewers can use the 1.8m dish to receive signals from the satellite. The project also involves the upgrading of the terrestrial TV network with the installation of new 5KW transmitters in Abuko, Kudang, Mansa Konko, Basang, and Basse. Viewers can still use their (ordinary) yagi antennas to receive GRTS signals. New FM transmitters will also be installed to provide nation wide FM coverage.

The dish is 7.3m in diameter and points towards Intelsat Satellite 901, (IS 901) 18 degrees west.The technical information required to tune GRTS from IS 901 is: Frequency: 4140.3 MHz on C Band Global, Symbol Rate: 3.5 Mb/s, Frequency Error Correction (FEC) ¾, Video PID: 33, Audio PID: 36

In her speech on behalf of the President, Her Excellency the Vice President Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy revealed that the implementation of this project lasted no more than two months. Digital satellite broadcasting will put The Gambia on the international super highway, thereby allowing viewers abroad to get first hand information about the country, allowing the possibility of more foreign investment and making it impossible for detractors to spread malicious information about The Gambia. She advised the management of GRTS to take good care of the project in view of the massive investment that His Excellency the President has put in it and indeed for the interest of the nation at large.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Information and Information Technology Alhaji A. Cham dilated on the advantages of satellite broadcasting, citing the possibility of greater understanding of our cultural values, as a nation as we hit international audiences, thereby opening endless avenues of collaboration and development for all Gambians.

The Director General of GRTS Alhagie Modou Sanyang hailed Professor Jammeh for his visionary leadership and support to GRTS since he came to power in 1994. The Contractor Mr. Loum Jagne also thanked the Gambian leader for giving them the opportunity to implement the project.

In his vote of thanks, the Director of Programs Radio Gambia Alhagie Serign Faye reveal that thanks to the intervention of His Excellency President Jammeh, Radio signal from The Gambia can now reach the shores of Canada and parts of the east coast of the United States . This he said is unprecedented in the history of The Gambia.

The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice, Cabinet Ministers and members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps.

Read the full Statement of the President