In The Gambia, the mobile market in February 2026 is defined by the expansion of 5G services—led by QCell—and a heavy focus on "Mega Bundles" from Africell to compete with growing data demands.
Major Carrier Offers
The "Big Four" compete on coverage and specialized data packages, often splitting data into "Day" and "Night" buckets.
* Africell Gambia:
* 4G Mega Bundles: Their 2026 flagship plans.
* 1.5GB for D262 (30 Days)
* 90GB for D1,500 (30 Days - split into 40GB Day / 50GB Night)
* Unlimited Night: They offer a popular "Night Owl" pack for heavy downloads between midnight and 8:00 AM.
* Activation: Dial *777# or use the MyAfricellGM app.
* QCell:
* 5G Pioneer: QCell remains the primary provider for 5G in the Greater Banjul Area.
* Ultimate Bundles: These combine data and voice. Packs range from 1GB to 20GB and include over 100 on-net and off-net minutes.
* Standard Data: Entry-level packs start at 20MB for D9, with 8GB for D975 and 13GB for D1,630.
* Activation: Dial *303#.
* Gamcel:
* Cloud9 & Dadima: These are high-volume subscription plans.
* Super Cloud9 (500GB): D2,600 (30 Days)
* Dadima (200GB): D1,800 (30 Days)
* Leisure Hour: A specific plan for 7:30 PM to 7:00 AM priced at D1,000 per month.
* Promotions: Dial *900# for the 3GB for D90 special.
* Comium:
* Sakan & Mega Bundles:
* 3GB for D150 (14 Days)
* 20GB Mega: D1,000 (60 Days)
* Home FastNet: They offer a family-focused "Unlimited" data package with speeds up to 5Mbps for D2,500 per month.
Smartphone & Retail Trends
Hardware is primarily sold through carrier boutiques on Kairaba Avenue and independent retailers in Serekunda.
* Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: * Launch Status: Global release is this week (February 25, 2026). Local flagship stores (QCell/Africell) are expected to begin pre-orders with data-bundling perks by early March.
* iPhone 17 Series:
* The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the high-end favorite in the business community, retailing for approx. D95,000–D110,000.
* Budget 5G: The Tecno Spark 30 and Infinix Hot 50 are the volume leaders this month, providing 5G connectivity for under D15,000.
Visitor & Tourist Information
If you are landing at Banjul International Airport (BJL):
* Local SIM: A physical SIM costs about D25–D50. You must provide a passport for registration.
* Travel eSIMs (2026 Picks):
* Africell 5G eSIM: Now available for tourists, providing a 1GB/7-day starter for approx. $9.99.
* Airalo: Offers a 10GB / 180-day "stay" plan for approx. $57.
* eSIM4Travel: The best budget choice for quick trips, offering 1GB for $4.94.
Important Notes for 2026
* Network Speeds: 5G is excellent in Banjul and the Senegambia tourism strip. For travel toward Basse, Africell and QCell provide the most consistent 4G/3G fallback.
* Mobile Money: Afrimoney (Africell) and QMoney (QCell) are used for everything from street snacks to taxi fares. Using these apps to buy data often grants a 10–20% bonus.
* Power & Charging: Power stability has improved, but carrying a power bank is still recommended if you are relying on your phone for navigation in rural areas.
Major Carrier Offers
The "Big Four" compete on coverage and specialized data packages, often splitting data into "Day" and "Night" buckets.
* Africell Gambia:
* 4G Mega Bundles: Their 2026 flagship plans.
* 1.5GB for D262 (30 Days)
* 90GB for D1,500 (30 Days - split into 40GB Day / 50GB Night)
* Unlimited Night: They offer a popular "Night Owl" pack for heavy downloads between midnight and 8:00 AM.
* Activation: Dial *777# or use the MyAfricellGM app.
* QCell:
* 5G Pioneer: QCell remains the primary provider for 5G in the Greater Banjul Area.
* Ultimate Bundles: These combine data and voice. Packs range from 1GB to 20GB and include over 100 on-net and off-net minutes.
* Standard Data: Entry-level packs start at 20MB for D9, with 8GB for D975 and 13GB for D1,630.
* Activation: Dial *303#.
* Gamcel:
* Cloud9 & Dadima: These are high-volume subscription plans.
* Super Cloud9 (500GB): D2,600 (30 Days)
* Dadima (200GB): D1,800 (30 Days)
* Leisure Hour: A specific plan for 7:30 PM to 7:00 AM priced at D1,000 per month.
* Promotions: Dial *900# for the 3GB for D90 special.
* Comium:
* Sakan & Mega Bundles:
* 3GB for D150 (14 Days)
* 20GB Mega: D1,000 (60 Days)
* Home FastNet: They offer a family-focused "Unlimited" data package with speeds up to 5Mbps for D2,500 per month.
Smartphone & Retail Trends
Hardware is primarily sold through carrier boutiques on Kairaba Avenue and independent retailers in Serekunda.
* Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: * Launch Status: Global release is this week (February 25, 2026). Local flagship stores (QCell/Africell) are expected to begin pre-orders with data-bundling perks by early March.
* iPhone 17 Series:
* The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the high-end favorite in the business community, retailing for approx. D95,000–D110,000.
* Budget 5G: The Tecno Spark 30 and Infinix Hot 50 are the volume leaders this month, providing 5G connectivity for under D15,000.
Visitor & Tourist Information
If you are landing at Banjul International Airport (BJL):
* Local SIM: A physical SIM costs about D25–D50. You must provide a passport for registration.
* Travel eSIMs (2026 Picks):
* Africell 5G eSIM: Now available for tourists, providing a 1GB/7-day starter for approx. $9.99.
* Airalo: Offers a 10GB / 180-day "stay" plan for approx. $57.
* eSIM4Travel: The best budget choice for quick trips, offering 1GB for $4.94.
Important Notes for 2026
* Network Speeds: 5G is excellent in Banjul and the Senegambia tourism strip. For travel toward Basse, Africell and QCell provide the most consistent 4G/3G fallback.
* Mobile Money: Afrimoney (Africell) and QMoney (QCell) are used for everything from street snacks to taxi fares. Using these apps to buy data often grants a 10–20% bonus.
* Power & Charging: Power stability has improved, but carrying a power bank is still recommended if you are relying on your phone for navigation in rural areas.
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