Satellite internet debate shifts toward balanced national connectivity strategy

Following consultations with technical experts, policymakers, private sector actors and digital development practitioners, consensus is emerging that satellite internet should not be framed as a choice between national security and digital progress. Instead, it presents an opportunity to design a complementary digital ecosystem that strengthens both.

Digital transformation efforts in e-government, education, entrepreneurship and innovation all depend on stable internet access. While The Gambia has expanded fiber infrastructure in recent years, experts note that fiber alone cannot address nationwide connectivity gaps due to high deployment costs, geographic limitations and vulnerability to physical disruption.

A holistic model would position fiber as the secure national backbone serving government systems, financial institutions and other critical infrastructure. Satellite technology, meanwhile, would function as a last-mile solution, extending services to remote and underserved communities where terrestrial infrastructure may take years to reach.

Regional experience supports this approach. Countries such as Senegal, Nigeria and Sierra Leone have permitted satellite providers under regulatory safeguards that protect national telecommunications ecosystems. Analysts argue that effective regulation, not prohibition offers the best path to balancing innovation with sovereignty.

Industry observers also emphasise the need to protect indigenous community networks. Under global frameworks supported by the International Telecommunication Union, community-based internet initiatives are recognised as drivers of digital inclusion. In The Gambia, youth-led Wi-Fi enterprises already expand affordable access, and satellite connectivity could lower upstream bandwidth costs and enable rural expansion.

At the regional level, coordination within ECOWAS is seen as critical to safeguarding interconnected infrastructure while harmonising standards.

Stakeholders agree that the national objective must be universal, affordable and resilient connectivity. A dual model fiber for stability and satellite for inclusion is increasingly viewed as the most practical path toward a secure and transformative digital future.