prevent harmful interference between frequencies assigned for civilian and military uses; and (f) Functions of the Authority collect relevant information from the Authority and other Government Departments or private entities to enable the Ministry to accomplish its functions. 9. (1) The Authority shall regulate the information and communications sector based on the fundamental principles of this Act with the objectives of- (a) ensuring the separation of regulatory and operational functions in the information and communications sector in The Gambia; (b) fostering transparency and non-discriminanation and protecting effective competition and a fair and efficient market between the organizations involved in the information and communications industry, duly taking into account the public interest and preventing distortion and restriction of competition in the information and communications sectors; (c) ensuring that there are provided in The Gambia, except where the provision is impracticable, such information and communications services as will satisfy all reasonable demands for them, including, in particular, emergency services, public pay telephone services, and directory information services; (d) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), ensuring to the greatest extent possible that the information and communications services are available and affordable to the persons who need them; (e) promoting the interests of consumers, pur-chasers and other users in The Gambia, including, in particular, those who are 30