Lamin Jabbie told lawmakers that the government partly ended its ban on private companies installing fiber cables. This explains why QCell has started installing cables around the country. Jabbie came to speak with lawmakers for the first time since becoming minister last November. Almamy Gibba from Foñi Kansala asked him about the trenches being dug from the Upper River Region to the Kombos.
Jabbie explained that the ban was partly lifted, letting QCell work on the project. He made clear that companies can only use these cables to run their services. They cannot connect customers or other companies or handle international connections. When Gibba asked for paperwork about the project, Jabbie said he told his staff to work with PURA to gather all the necessary documents.
Gibba mentioned that Gamtel officials had told lawmakers they had written to QCell asking them to stop digging, which they did at first. He wanted to know why the digging had started again. Jabbie answered that he wasn't a minister when the digging first started or when the ban began. After he became minister, he saw a letter about restarting the work and held meetings with all companies.
Another lawmaker, Alagie Mbow from Upper Saloum, mentioned that another company tried to install cables in the Kombos but was stopped. He asked if the government was playing favorites by letting QCell continue. Jabbie responded that the first company stopped because of the earlier ban. He said the ban was temporarily lifted after that, and all companies should be able to benefit from this change, not just QCell.
Jabbie explained that the ban was partly lifted, letting QCell work on the project. He made clear that companies can only use these cables to run their services. They cannot connect customers or other companies or handle international connections. When Gibba asked for paperwork about the project, Jabbie said he told his staff to work with PURA to gather all the necessary documents.
Gibba mentioned that Gamtel officials had told lawmakers they had written to QCell asking them to stop digging, which they did at first. He wanted to know why the digging had started again. Jabbie answered that he wasn't a minister when the digging first started or when the ban began. After he became minister, he saw a letter about restarting the work and held meetings with all companies.
Another lawmaker, Alagie Mbow from Upper Saloum, mentioned that another company tried to install cables in the Kombos but was stopped. He asked if the government was playing favorites by letting QCell continue. Jabbie responded that the first company stopped because of the earlier ban. He said the ban was temporarily lifted after that, and all companies should be able to benefit from this change, not just QCell.
