The country is migrating to a 9-digit mobile number system to accommodate its growing population and increasing use of multiple devices.
The Gambia has officially transitioned to a 9-digit mobile number system, a move supported by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, and the Government. This expansion increases the national numbering capacity from 10 million to one billion, a hundred-fold growth. Africell customers will see their existing numbers prefixed with '87', with a parallel-run system ensuring both old and new numbers function simultaneously during the initial phase.
This significant upgrade is driven by the rapid growth in telecommunications and the central role mobile phones now play in communication and digital financial services. With a population of 2.8 million people currently utilizing approximately 10 million numbers, the previous capacity was becoming inadequate, especially as many individuals use multiple devices. The new system also allows for the recycling of inactive numbers to replenish the available pool.
While the immediate impact on customers is expected to be minimal, users may encounter changes when setting up applications like WhatsApp, as verification codes will eventually be directed to the new number format. International calls might experience temporary disruptions as external partners adjust their systems. Africell is introducing a Contact Updater feature on its MyAfricell app to help customers manage the transition by automatically adding the new prefix to local contacts.
Why it mattersThe migration to a 9-digit mobile number system affects all Gambians by changing their phone numbers and potentially impacting digital services and international communications.
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