By Olimatou Coker
Africell Gambia has announced a major upgrade to the country’s telephone numbering system, describing the exercise as a necessary step to accommodate the rapid growth of the telecommunications sector.
Speaking at a press conference, Hussein Diab Ghanem, Africell’s chief executive officer said the national numbering migration is a sign of growth and development rather than disruption.
With the new numbering system, the country’s numbering capacity will increase significantly, reaching about 100 million numbers. Africell alone is expected to add approximately 2.5 million numbers to its network.
CEO Diab said the migration will begin with “a parallel-run phase”, during which both existing and new numbers will work simultaneously. Africell subscribers will have 87 added to their existing numbers.
“This is not the first time the country has changed its numbering system,” he said, recalling previous changes during the era of landlines as the population and telecommunications sector expanded.
The company reassured subscribers that the migration will have little immediate impact on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
However, international callers may experience “some temporary challenges” as telecommunications partners outside The Gambia update their systems. “Subscribers with relatives abroad are therefore advised to provide them with their new number format if necessary,” Africell stated.
To make the transition easier, Africell has introduced a contact-update feature through its mobile application. The tool will allow subscribers to automatically update their local contacts by adding the new 87 prefix, rather than manually changing each number.
The feature is expected to become available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store once the platforms complete their approval processes.
Africell has also partnered with Jokko9, a team of students from the University of The Gambia, which has developed an independent application capable of helping users update their contacts to the new format.
The Africell CEO praised the young developers, saying their initiative demonstrates the ability of Gambian youth to develop practical digital solutions to national challenges.
Africell urged subscribers to rely on information from the company and the telecommunications regulator rather than unverified messages circulating on social media.
The company specifically dismissed voice notes advising subscribers to switch off their phones overnight and wait for the new numbers to appear automatically.
Officials said the migration is a major national exercise that requires coordinated action across operators, regulators and international telecommunications partners.
The company acknowledged that some challenges may arise during the transition but assured subscribers that its customer service team would remain available to address complaints and technical difficulties.
The company said the numbering expansion is ultimately necessary to ensure that The Gambia’s telecommunications infrastructure keeps pace with its growing population, digital economy and increasing demand for mobile services.