Gassa: Before you run around pleading ignorance, the ITU has definitely launched developmental wireless programs in Somalia. This is an excerpt for a paper they published explaining some of the project in Somalia: "Somalia Provision of basic telecommunications and informatics services in Galkayo (Mudug) Province through the introduction of a pilot community telecentre, with terminal equipment as above. This would be connected to the national/international network through a small/medium capacity satellite earth station (Arabsat or Intelsat DAMA) with associated wireless access system (cellular radio or MARS) for initially some 10 to 30 individual subscr ibers and five payphones. A local exchange is also needed. Estimated project cost US$350 000 to 430 000. This proposal was presented by Somalia Trading Company on behalf of the regional authorities." This is just a bit of background info I want you to see before I start debunking the misconceptions you are spreading here. But the truth is our country lost out big time in this aspect because of the 1994 overthrow of the legally elected Jawara regime. Although, you conveniently sidestepped this issue, it is the truth. Instead, of benefiting from this project in 1994, we now have a situation where foreign firms and personnel have to oversee such development. This means companies like Africell in collaboration with front men back home can rip the our citizens off. Gassama, problem with debating with you is that you will say absolutely ANYTHING to make the state of affairs in The Gambia look good, even if you have to print untruths here to do this. Case in point, your assertion that rural development of land cable lines is profitable. You know as much as I do that this is a blatant lie. Your argument about most rich people originally hailing from the provinces is quite laughable. Point is research has proven that it is cheaper to use wireless technology to give rural areas access to telecommunications. I know that most of us what you posted here are lies. But this is about Internet access in rural Gambia, and while you say it is not Gamtel's job to get rural areas connected, it is reasonable to assume that any type of development in this regard will be a joint collaboration between Gamtel & the Gambia govt. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect the govt to come to Gamtel and ask them to write a comprehensive plan of what this endeavor would entail and the costs associated with it. So yes, should a project like this ever take off, Gamtel should rightly be at the forefront of most planning and implementation efforts. Gassama it is futile for folks on the ground to reason with you because you will lie to save your backside constantly. To prove that you are a liar, I am including a link which contains a map of wireless coverage back home. If one looks at the map carefully, you will see that in actuality only a very small geographical area of the country is covered by these networks; http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_gm.shtml -Yus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~