The Kairaba Beach Hotel on Monday hosted the 11th Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly of Parties of the Regional African Satellite Communication (RASCOM). The conference brought together ministers from across the African continent.

Reading the statement of His Excellency the President Sheikh Professor Jammeh, the Vice President Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy welcomed the delegates to the smiling coast of Africa, she said RASCOM has over the years demonstrated its usefulness as a body that seeks the opportunities presented by the global information and communications landscape in addressing the gaps of telecommunication infrastructure in Africa.

She noted that the Gambia government is indeed gratified by the strides initiated by RASCOM to implement a satellite network for Africa which she described as timely for a continent eager to bridge the digital divide and become a strategic player in world affairs.

The Vice President further stated that in The Gambia, the creation of such a massive structure is assurance to boost our drive towards attaining the middle income country status in line with the objectives of our national vision 2020.

She mentioned that the launching of the RASCOMSTAR Satellite in December 2007 has been a strong call of the continent's resolve to promote pan-Africanism and the integration that Africa seeks as a union.

She continued to note that the satellite and associated systems present added opportunities that would enable Africa to take full control of our affairs including the leveraging of resources to promote the continent's identity as a save heaven for quality investment and business.

Dr. Njie-Saidy said the continent's information and communication technology requirements are enormous and the need for closer review of options to increase the satellite coverage and density is a challenge for both RASCOM and members states. She said in view of hosting one of the Network operations centers (NOC) on the RASCOM system, the Gambia governments have already allocated a land to RASCOM.

She noted that it is important that all such projects are implemented so that the complete Satellite system and infrastructure is created and in place for use by the respective national telecoms operators providing ICT services in Africa. She called on governments to continue working with RASCOM to ensure that their services are of highest quality and affordable.

Speaking earlier the Director General/CEO of RASCOM Dr. Jones A. Killimbe commended the government of The Gambia for hosting such a conference. He said this meeting is taking place at one of the most exciting and crucial moments in the history of RASCOM for transforming itself from a concept into a reality.

Dr. Killimbe stated that we are living in a global information society where communication and knowledge are vital tools for the creation of wealth and prosperity for our continent. He noted that as far as ICT development in Africa is concerned, the facts and figures are speaking for themselves. "It is evident that Africa is not only the least served, but also the most unconnected continent. Just imagines, Africa the region with lowest income levels is where the relative prices for ICT services are the highest in the world," he emphasized.

The RASCOM CEO, continued to say that Africa has the lowest internet penetration rate in the world and it spends over 500 million US Dollars a year on internet local traffic transit. He appealed for more political will from Africa leaders to support the project and RASCOM will not take this sustained political support for granted because it gives it more strength.

The CEO, stated that after the launch of the satellite, it experienced some technical problems associated with the leakage of the helium gas whose role is to maneuver the satellite in the geostationary orbits. He informed the gathering that the replacement satellite will be launched between July and September 2010.

Dr. Killimbe said despite the technical problem the RASCOM Satellite is commercially operational and is providing connectivity to several countries in Africa to support the Pan-African e-Network which is another continental initiative by bringing together the Indian government and Africa through the African Union.

He urged all RASCOM members states, the African Union, signatories, policy and regulatory authorities in Africa to continue providing the necessary support to RASCOM.

Representing the Minister of Communication Information and Information Technology, the Minister Trade, Industry and Employment Yusupha Kah said the hosting of this event in Banjul is the manifestation of His Excellency the President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh's commitment to the RASCOM project as a true pan Africanist. He continued to say that the Gambian leader registered his unflinching support to the vision and mission of RASCOM which was contained in his inaugural statement during the AU Summit held in 2006.

The Trade Minister noted that RASCOM has registered some strategic successes in 2003 and 2008 which includes the regulatory frame work that the RASCOM staff have, amongst others. He urged members in partenershipping and support to RASCOM.