PURA gives ‘illegal hotspot operators’ 7 days to shut down or face seizure
In a regulatory compliance and enforcement notice dated 12 May 2026, the Authority said the provision of internet services to the public without authorisation is unlawful under the Information and Communications Act, 2009 and the PURA Act, 2001. PURA stressed that no individual or entity is permitted to establish, install, operate, or maintain internet services for public use without a licence, permit, or authorisation issued by the Authority. The notice targets operators involved in Wi-Fi hotspot services, internet resale, or any form of public internet access operating without approval from PURA. According to the Authority, a previous public notice issued earlier this year gave operators a registration window from 1 January to 3 March 2026 to regularise their operations. While some operators complied with the directive, PURA said many continue to operate illegally, with some failing to properly disclose how their services are being run. As part of what it called a final compliance directive, PURA ordered all unauthorised operators to either immediately cease operations or regularise their services within seven days from the date of the notice. The Authority said operators seeking to regularise their operations must provide details including their identity and contact information, location of operations, type of services offered, source of internet connectivity, equipment and infrastructure used, pricing structure, and estimated number of customers served. PURA warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period will trigger nationwide enforcement operations under the PURA Act, the Information and Communications Act, and the PURA Enforcement Regulations, 2010. The enforcement measures, according to the notice, will involve coordinated multi-agency operations and may include inspections of premises and installations, verification of authorisation status, shutdown of illegal services, disconnection of unlawful internet connections, sealing and removal of unauthorised equipment, seizure and detention of equipment, as well as prosecution and sanctions under the laws of The Gambia. The Authority maintained that enforcing compliance is necessary to ensure fair competition in the communications sector, protect licensed operators from unlawful market practices, safeguard consumers, maintain network security and integrity, and uphold the rule of law. PURA further called on members of the public and licensed operators to report suspected unauthorised internet operations through its official channels, including the toll-free consumer line 148. The notice takes immediate effect from the date of publication.
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In a regulatory compliance and enforcement notice dated 12 May 2026, the Authority said the provision of internet services to the public without authorisation is unlawful under the Information and Communications Act, 2009 and the PURA Act, 2001. PURA stressed that no individual or entity is permitted to establish, install, operate, or maintain internet services for public use without a licence, permit, or authorisation issued by the Authority.
The notice targets operators involved in Wi-Fi hotspot services, internet resale, or any form of public internet access operating without approval from PURA.
According to the Authority, a previous public notice issued earlier this year gave operators a registration window from 1 January to 3 March 2026 to regularise their operations. While some operators complied with the directive, PURA said many continue to operate illegally, with some failing to properly disclose how their services are being run.
As part of what it called a final compliance directive, PURA ordered all unauthorised operators to either immediately cease operations or regularise their services within seven days from the date of the notice.
The Authority said operators seeking to regularise their operations must provide details including their identity and contact information, location of operations, type of services offered, source of internet connectivity, equipment and infrastructure used, pricing structure, and estimated number of customers served.
PURA warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period will trigger nationwide enforcement operations under the PURA Act, the Information and Communications Act, and the PURA Enforcement Regulations, 2010.
The enforcement measures, according to the notice, will involve coordinated multi-agency operations and may include inspections of premises and installations, verification of authorisation status, shutdown of illegal services, disconnection of unlawful internet connections, sealing and removal of unauthorised equipment, seizure and detention of equipment, as well as prosecution and sanctions under the laws of The Gambia.
The Authority maintained that enforcing compliance is necessary to ensure fair competition in the communications sector, protect licensed operators from unlawful market practices, safeguard consumers, maintain network security and integrity, and uphold the rule of law.
PURA further called on members of the public and licensed operators to report suspected unauthorised internet operations through its official channels, including the toll-free consumer line 148.
The notice takes immediate effect from the date of publication.
