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Momodou
Denmark
11681 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Feb 2008 : 19:10:40
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Internet Operators Lament Lack of Access
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Internet Café operators and users have been complaining recently that they cannot access the internet services nowadays. They complained that it sometimes takes them two to three hours before they can access the Internet. Internet operators stated that they are having difficulties with their customers due to difficulties in accessing their email accounts.
Most customers who this reporter spoke to said that they cannot understand the slow process of browsing the internet. They said they buy time which would be exhausted without accessing their emails. Some customers stated that they would buy two to three hours without accessing their mails which is a loss to them.
The internet café operators within the Kanifing Municipality pinpointed the same problems they have been having since last week. They said it is very difficult for their clients to understand the delay in accessing the internet. They said they have to explain to their customers that the problem emanates from the main service providers. They said customers often ask them to refund them their monies as they cannot access the internet. They indicated that they are encountering financial losses due to a drop in the number of customers; that they do refund some customers who insist on getting their monies back because of inaccessibility to the internet.
However, Foroyaa investigated the problem and found out that the internet cable linking Gamtel and Sonatel, in Senegal has been faulty. According to our sources, The Gambia internet traffic passes through Senegal; that their main supply is the Senegalese internet provider Sonatel. Our sources indicated that the reasons for the slow access to the internet is that The Gambia is not directly connected to the World Wide Web, noting that the Gambia gets supplies from Senegal.
Foroyaa was also informed that Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal are some of the countries in Africa that have direct connection to the World Wide Web. A source added that The Gambia is paying heavily for the services from Senegal. Mr. Yaya Manneh, of the Gamtel Internet Service unit, confirmed their problems pointing out that it was a cable problem emanating from their underground fibre connection with Senegal, which has been cut. But he was quick to add that they are tirelessly working on the problem. He indicated that, at first, they thought the fibre problem emanated from the Senegalese side but it was later discovered that it was from The Gambian side. He also confirmed that Gambia is not yet connected to World Wide Web due to lack of “Marine Cable,” which Senegal have for easy access to the World Wide Web. He noted that their main back bone is Senegal.
However, as we were speaking on the phone, Mr. Manneh revealed that he had just received a message from their engineers that the problem has been solved.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 18/2007, 11 – 12 February 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2008 : 19:28:31
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"However, as we were speaking on the phone, Mr. Manneh revealed that he had just received a message from their engineers that the problem has been solved. "
Well........ what a surprise, how fortunate that the newspaper reporter was on scene when the problem was fixed.I make no further comment, except to say, could the power of the press be responsible for the miricalous fixing of the problem? |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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mavaric
Turkmenistan
94 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 04:28:42
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| the sonatel link to senegal went down. there was connectivity but the rest of the bandwith was routed through global voice's VSAT. So a lot of people that day were experiencing very slow connections. Gambia didnt join the SAT3 consortium that created the marine cable link from south africa passing along the african coast. Senegal has a landing station where the cable connects, so we have to buy bandwith from them through fibre connectivity. We should opt for other VSAT solutions to increase our gateway bandwith and maybe buy the rights in the SAT3 consortium for our own landing station. Our country is so small, it shouldnt be too hard to create a fibre grid, provide speeds from 100mbs to 1GBs per user . lol. we can have the fastest internet in africa. haha |
Edited by - mavaric on 12 Feb 2008 04:29:40 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 10:18:01
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Mavaric,Thanks for explaining about the cable in such a way that we can all understand,my personal feeling is that without doubt Gamtel (or who ever) should buy into this cable and SAT3 as soon as they can,Gambia has got quite a good communication system,most people have mobiles but Gambia should embrace the world via the internet this will give skills to people, develop buisness,Gambia could become the Dubai of West Africa.
Maybe Gambia should be left alone and just keep herself to herself,Has anybody any opinions? |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 11:46:32
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| in this day and age there is no excuse for a country like gambia not to have good communications links. In the name of business for all sectors it is needed, How can yo prosper without it. Gambia is wanting to go forward with Ecowas and other changes in the business world this could be a major set back. |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 16:11:52
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Yes but are there any votes in it? that seems to be the criteria these days,weather it be the UK and their unruley youths or Gambia with the internet.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 22:58:18
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The Observer got onto this story quite quickly and made a few interesting observations !
Stop cutting Gamtel cables - DoSCIT warns culprits
Africa » Gambia
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
“Unscrupulous” individuals sabotaging the country’s telecommunication giant, by cutting off its communication cables, have been handed a stern warning by the Department of State for Communication and Information Technology (DoSCIT). “Desist from the such illegal acts or face the consequences”.
According to a four-paragraph press release from the state department, such a sabotage is driven by commercial motives and those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.
However, the department acknowledged that not all of these disruption in the delivery of telecommunication services are intentional as some inadvertently occur during civil works, such as excavation.
The state department then called on the public to exercise a sense of patriotism and remain vigilant in order to weed out the saboteurs. Below is the full text of the press release.
“The Department of State for Communications and Information Technology (DoSCIT) has noted with concern the cutting of Gamtel transmission cables along the country, which results to interruptions in the provision of telecommunications services to the general public.
Although, some of these cuttings are found to be unintentional due to lack of knowledge about the existence of the underground cables during excavation and other civil works, but some cuttings are carried out by unscrupulous individuals for commercial gains or purely sabotage.
This unethical and criminal act which should cease, warning that any individual caught in the act will be severely death with according to the law.
Meanwhile, we call on all Gambians to exercise patriotism and be a watchdog to safeguard our national telecommunications backbone to facilitate communication.
In this regard, the public is hereby urged to report any suspected activities or malpractices done to these cables to the nearest police station, regional governor’s offices or any Gamtel/Gamcel offices”.
© Copyright Observer Company Ltd. All rights reserved
I expect the spelling in this piece above is incorrect ..........or is it? I have copied the paragraph below in case the wording didn't jump out at you!
"This unethical and criminal act which should cease, warning that any individual caught in the act will be severely death with according to the law."
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 12 Feb 2008 23:02:56 |
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