The Gambian President, His Excellency Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, has lauded a US$9.5 million project that saw the national broadcasting services, the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), go on satellite. The ceremony was held at GRTS’ head office in Kanifing.
In a statement read on behalf of President Jammeh, Haja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, described it as an important milestone project in the journey to develop The Gambia.
“The digitalization of GRTS and the introduction of satellite broadcasting has always been my personal ambition which has finally come to fruition today. My passion in this project lies not only in the immeasurable and diverse opportunities it provides to The Gambia in its drive to be reckoned with among the comity of nations, but also in the opportunities it provides for Gambians in the Diaspora and non-Gambians alike to get direct access to accurate information on The Gambia,” President Jammeh noted.
For many people, he went on, such projects are considered ideal and possible only for the rich and more powerful economies. Bigger and more robust economies have not been able to achieve digitalization even though their national TVs have been in existence longer than GRTS which came into being in December 1995.”
President Jammeh spoke at length on the potentials of satellite broadcasting and the opportunities it would offer The Gambia. He further observed that the signals from the satellite that would be received throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and most parts of the Americas, will place The Gambia on the international super-highway for enhanced news and information broadcasting.
“For GRTS, the sky will continue to be the limit. The next phase of the project which is currently ongoing will complete the switch-over process from the current analogue to the new and advanced digitalized broadcasting technology and expanding this to the terrestrial transmission network,” Professor Jammeh revealed.
(Source: The Patrotic Vanguard, Sierra Leone)
* GRTS is on the global beam of Intelsat 901 at 18 degrees West, transponder 87, 4140 MHz L.
on Jun 1st, 2009 at 11:21
proud of my president and my country! this is quite a big leap in development!
on Feb 28th, 2010 at 17:31
Can anyone please tell me what type of Television signal is most commonly used in the Gambia - Analogue or Digital?
I would like to buy a small portable television for a Gambian family I first met 3 years ago - with whom I have kept in touch with ever since. The small things that we in the Developed World take forgranted will give my friends so much pleasure. (done the Mobile Camera Phones; Digital Camera and Solar Powered Lights and Radio’s!)
I plan to visit the Gambia once again before the end of 2010.
on Mar 5th, 2010 at 21:10
I please want to know wether G.R.T.S is reach on internet and how can someone get on internet and recomendation to the president with the good work he is providing to Gambian socity and the entire Gambia socity.
on Mar 6th, 2010 at 12:03
To answer the previous poster: GRTS does have a website at grts.gm with an inbedded audio player “playing” but not actually streaming any content as yet - looks as if it’s on the way though!
Three commercial Gambian stations are already available online with live audio streaming:
West Coast Radio 1 & 2: http://www.westcoast.gm
Unique FM: http://www.uniquefm.gm
Paradise FM: http://www.paradisefm.gm
on Jul 24th, 2010 at 15:25
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WEATHER G R T S IS ON THE SEATLITE….
SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE G R T S NEWS ALL AVER THE WORLD
on Aug 18th, 2010 at 13:40
JUST WANT TO KNOW WEATHER G R T S IS ON THE SEATLITE….
SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE G R T S NEWS ALL AVER THE WORLD