The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia has launched a nationwide crackdown on unauthorised internet resellers and public Wi-Fi hotspot operators, intensifying efforts to regulate the country’s digital communications sector.
In a regulatory notice issued on May 12, 2026, PURA stated that individuals or businesses providing internet access services without proper licensing are operating illegally under the Information and Communications Act, 2009, and the PURA Act, 2001.
According to the regulator, all operators offering Wi-Fi hotspot services, internet resale operations, or other forms of public internet access must obtain official authorisation before continuing operations. The move follows a registration and regularisation exercise conducted between January and March 2026, which aimed to formalise informal internet service providers across the country.
While some operators complied with the directive, PURA noted that several businesses continued operating without approval or failed to fully disclose their operational structures. As a result, the Authority has ordered all unauthorised operators to either cease operations immediately or regularise their services within seven days.
To become compliant, operators are required to provide detailed information including business identity, operating locations, service descriptions, connectivity sources, infrastructure deployed, pricing structures, and estimated customer numbers.
PURA warned that failure to comply could trigger nationwide enforcement actions, including inspections, service disconnections, equipment seizures, and possible prosecution under existing telecommunications regulations.
The regulator said the enforcement drive is intended to strengthen fair competition, improve consumer protection, safeguard network security, and ensure compliance within The Gambia’s evolving digital ecosystem.
