ICT OUTLOOK

Transcription

1 SHAPING MAURITIUS INTO A CYBER ISLAND ICT OUTLOOK MINISTRY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS

2 THE ICT GENERATION>

3 ICT OUTLOOK MINISTRY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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5 During the last four years, Mauritius has achieved gigantic strides in the ICT sector. No doubt this unprecedented performance did not materialise by sheer chance. It stemmed out of a coherent vision, a strong will to make it happen, adopting the right policies and strategies as well as creating the appropriate institutional set up.we also put in place the legal and fiscal incentive framework conducive to the smooth development of the ICT Industry. It is clear that such a major breakthrough would not have been realised without the sprouting of the Cyber Tower, an intelligent building located right in the middle of our Cyber City.All this has been achieved within a short span of four years. But our journey in the digital era has just started.we have to constantly innovate since innovation is the key driver for wealth creation and economic competitiveness. In spite of our small landmass and limited resource base, we have to struggle to innovate for our survival. To succeed in this challenging endeavour, we have to promote clustering at the level of the enterprise, quick responsiveness to international market changes, take risks by tapping new business opportunities be it local or regional, thereby creating distinct value proposition. We will fall short of all these targets if we do not unleash our human potentialities and capabilities. We will have to continue to invest massively in training programs and other resource development schemes.at the tertiary level, we have to increase the supply of ICT graduates by opening up further to well-renowned foreign ICT Training Institutions.While all efforts are being made to provide training facilities to our youth, we have to facilitate the entry and employment of ICT expatriates in Mauritius with a view to building the critical mass which is vital to the successful launching of the ICT sector as the fifth pillar of our economy. The threats of globalisation cannot nurture in us a doomsday mindset, on the contrary, we have to react and react fast. Our nation cannot miss the ICT train nor our country lag behind in the e-revolution. Our world tomorrow will be a totally different world and we will have to learn to live with technological pervasiveness in our everyday life. Mauritius is well poised to join the league of high performing ICT players and we have more awards to win in the international arena. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, G.C.S.K., K.C.M.G., Q.C. President of the Republic

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7 I am particularly pleased to be associated with the publication of the magazine ICT Outlook which highlights the achievements of Government in the Information and Communication Technologies sector during the last four years. I have the privilege of having been closely associated with the development of this sector. We need to recognize that one of the determining factors that has enabled the country to achieve remarkable progress in the ICT sector within such a short span of time has been clear vision and commitment at all levels. We have addressed the issue of infrastructure with the setting up of the Ebène Cybercity, that of capacity building with the introduction of training schemes for all stakeholders and we have liberalized the telecommunications sector to promote competition and provide a level playing field for all operators. Mauritius is well poised to meet the Millennium ICT goal set out by the UN for an Internet penetration of 50% households by I am fully confident that we are on the right track and that we have the potential and the capability to realize our ambition of transforming Mauritius into a Cyber Island and the Info-Com hub of the region. I trust that all players and stakeholders will continue to collaborate and work together for the further progress and development of our ICT sector. Paul Raymond Bérenger, GCSK Prime Minister

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9 Information and Communication Technology is a global imperative. It has become an engine of growth and an important tool to achieve development goals and to significantly improve the lives of Mauritians. It is precisely for these reasons that Government has an aggressive yet realistic approach to ICT sector strategy. While the strategy focuses on developing ICT into a fifth pillar of the economy, it is also designed to promote strong links between that sector and other economic and social activities. As an emerging industry, ICT is showing very encouraging signs of success. Rapid employment creation is one of them. Increasing investment, both local and foreign, in the sector is another one. But for success to be complete, the ICT sector must stimulate innovation. And this must be the collective undertaking of Government, labour, business, academia, and civil society. The evidence is compelling that our ability to innovate and to integrate the global economy will determine our ability to achieve higher development paths. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance & Economic Development

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11 It s indeed a privilege for me to address you on the occasion of the publication of our ICT Outlook Through it, you will be able to see that our dream of making of our country a Cyber Island is being realised, and that ICT is fast becoming the fifth pillar of our economic scenery. We are living in a time of perpetual change, and have to do things differently. I think that we need to be creative, innovative and futuristic enough to be able to turn every obstacle into an opportunity to grow, learn and prosper. The consolidation of the bases on which ICT is grounded as mentioned in the magazine enables us to think of ways to break through even further. In the process I am sure that success will become the norm for all stakeholders. As a firm believer in the future, I have no doubt that ICT will transform the future of Mauritius for the better, and it is towards this future society that we need to forge ahead together. I would like to summarise my message in the words of Charles F. Kettering: My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there. Deelchand Jeeha Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications Hon. Minister D. Jeeha was the winner of the Africa ICT Achievers Award 2004 in the category of Top Minister with an ICT Portfolio. He was also designated as the overall winner for individual awards at the Africa ICT Achievers Award Competition 2004.

12 CONTENTS Executive Summary National Policies and Regulatory Framework > Policies 14 > National Telecommunications Policy 2004 (NTP 2004) 14 > Policy Framework for Internet Service Providers > ICT Incentive Scheme 15 > Scheme to Attract Professionals for Emerging Sectors (SAPES) 15 > Entrepreneurship Development 15 > Corporatisation of Postal Services 15 > Country code top level domain (.mu) 16 > Legal framework 16 > Information and Communication Technologies Act > Postal Services Act > Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act > Data Protection Act > Institutional set-up 16 > ICT Advisory Council 16 > ICT Authority 17 > ICT Appeal Tribunal 17 > Postal Authority 17 > Data Protection Office 17 > Liberalisation of telecommunications 17 > Regulatory Framework 17 > New licensing framework 17 > National Radio Frequency Plan 18 > National Telecommunications Numbering Plan 18 > Calling Party Pays (CPP) System 18 > Tariff Rebalancing 18 > Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) 18 > Universal Service Access 18 Infrastructure Development 19 > World class Business Parks 20 > The Business Parks of Mauritius Ltd (BPML) 20 > The Ebène Cybercity 20 > The Cyber Tower 21 > Forthcoming Business Parks 21 > State-of-the-art telecommunications 21 > Fixed Telecommunications Infrastructure 22 > Wireless Local Loop (WLL) 22 > Mobile Telephony 22 > Broadband international connectivity 22 > The SAFE cable network 23 > IPLC tariffs reduction 23 > Satellite Gateways 24 > Broadband Networks 24 > ADSL & SDSL 24 > Wi-Fi 25

13 > Introduction of third Generation of Mobile (3G) 25 > Democratisation of the Internet 25 > Community Interactive Kiosks 25 > The Community Access Point (CAP) 25 > Growth of Internet Usage 26 > ICT Key Performance Indicators 26 E-Government 27 > E-Government Task Force 28 > E-Government Master Plan 30 > Government Portal 30 > Government Online Centre (GOC) 31 > Government Intranet System (GINS) 31 > Government Services (GES) 31 > Information Security 31 > Training for Civil Service 32 > Civil Service Computerisation 32 Human Resource Development and ICT Culture Promotion 33 > Human Resource Development 34 > E-Education and Training Task Force 34 > National Strategy 35 > School IT Project (SITP) 35 > Primary Schools 36 > Secondary Schools 36 > Capacity Building at Tertiary Level 36 > ICT Culture Promotion 37 > Computer Proficiency Programme 37 > IT Coach Programme 37 > Setting up of ICT Regional Centres 37 > ICT Competitions for Secondary Schools 38 > ICT Project Competition 38 > Setting up of an e-learning Centre 38 ICT Industry Development 39 > Government Commitment for ICT Industry Development 40 > The ICT Incentive Scheme 40 > SAPES 41 > Pre-operational Training Incentive Scheme 41 > ICT Incubators 42 > BPO and ITES Sector 42 List of Websites 43

14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Mauritius has witnessed major developments and has undergone rapid and sustained growth over the past years.the vision of transforming Mauritius into a Cyberisland and making the ICT sector the fifth pillar of the economy is already taking shape. One of the determining factors for the rapid development of the ICT sector is the high level political commitment through the ICT Ministerial Committee chaired by the Prime Minister himself. Under this Committee, three Task Forces were set up to oversee sectoral ICT projects as follows: > Cybercity and Business Parks, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance & Economic Development, to monitor infrastructure development for ICT > e-education and Training, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Education and Scientific Research, to cater for human resource needs for the ICT sector > e-government, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, to implement the e-government initiative The Business Parks of Mauritius Ltd (BPML) was established in 2001 to spearhead the physical infrastructure development for the transformation of Mauritius into a cyber island. Its first assignment has been the setting up of the Cybercity project at Ebène.The infrastructure comprises the CyberTower with inbuilt optic fibre-based telecom network directly linked to the high-speed SAFE digital highway. A School ICT project which aims at introducing ICT at primary school level has been worked out and will be implemented in a phased manner.a Computer Proficiency Programme (CPP) has been mounted for the benefit of the public at large.the annual intake of students in ICT at the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology Mauritius has been substantially increased so as to develop a pool of fully-qualified human resources in the sector. Additionally, other training institutions, both public and private, have been accredited for dispensing full-fledged tertiary ICT education. Government has also embarked on an intensive training programme planned over the next two years for 5, 000 SC and HSC holders to work in call centres and the BPO sector. Government is implementing a major e-government programme with the objective of providing efficient, effective and citizen-focused public services on a 7-day 24-hour basis. In this context, the Government Online Centre (GOC) is being set up. The GOC will host the Government Portal which will be the nodal interface through which citizens will have access to public services electronically. Ministries and Departments will be interconnected through the Government Intranet System (GINS) to form a secure network with the GOC as hub.the e-government Master Plan, elaborated with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat, will pave the way for a coherent and integrated approach to e-government initiatives. The ICT Authority was established as the regulatory body under the ICT Act 2001 with the objective of democratising access to ICT for the promotion of a knowledge-based society and ensuring the transition towards a fully liberalised and competitive market in the ICT sector. Moreover, Government liberalised the telecommunications sector in December 2002, one year ahead of schedule. A policy framework for Internet Service Providers (ISP) was introduced in 2001 to liberalise the Internet market. In addition, Government came forward with the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2004 in response to the evolving operator/consumer demands in a fully liberalised and competitive market. The SAFE submarine cable, operational since 2002, has been a major breakthrough for placing Mauritius on the information super highway by providing high bandwidth and secured international connectivity at competitive rates. The legal framework has been reinforced by the enactment of appropriate legislations to cater for the protection of intellectual property rights, electronic transactions, privacy and data, and to guard against computer misuse and cyber crimes. A tailor-made ICT Scheme was introduced in 2001 to encourage investment in the ICT sector.the number of BPO and ITES companies has grown from 7 in 2000 to 72 in October 2004, representing a total investment of Rs billion. Although Mauritius has made remarkable progress in the ICT sector, Government is determined to pursue its efforts to ensure the sustainable growth of the sector for the socio-economic development of the country. 12

15 REGULATORY NATIONAL FRAMEWORK POLICIES AND REGULATORY NATIONAL FRAMEWORK POLICIES > BREAKER DUMMY SUB TITLE BREAKER DUMMY SUB TITLE BREAKER DUMMY SUB > POLICIES TITLE > BREAKER > NATIONAL DUMMY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUB TITLE BREAKER POLICY DUMMY 2004 SUB (NTP TITLE 2004) > POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS 2001 > ICT INCENTIVE SCHEME > SCHEME TO ATTRACT PROFESSIONALS FOR EMERGING SECTORS (SAPES) > ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT > CORPORATISATION OF POSTAL SERVICES > COUNTRY CODE TOP LEVEL DOMAIN (.MU) > LEGAL FRAMEWORK > INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ACT 2001 > POSTAL SERVICES ACT 2002 > COMPUTER MISUSE AND CYBERCRIME ACT 2003 > DATA PROTECTION ACT 2004 > INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP > ICT ADVISORY COUNCIL > ICT AUTHORITY > ICT APPEAL TRIBUNAL > POSTAL AUTHORITY > DATA PROTECTION OFFICE > LIBERALISATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS > REGULATORY FRAMEWORK > NEW LICENSING FRAMEWORK > NATIONAL RADIO FREQUENCY PLAN > NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NUMBERING PLAN > CALLING PARTY PAYS (CPP) SYSTEM > TARIFF REBALANCING > INTERCONNECTION USAGE CHARGES (IUC) > UNIVERSAL SERVICE ACCESS

16 NATIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK A crucial element for ICT development is the availability of a conducive legal and regulatory framework. Government is conscious of the key role which the legal and regulatory framework plays in ensuring the sustainable development of the ICT sector. In this perspective, appropriate legislations on data security, protection against cyber crimes, the liberalisation and regulation of telecommunications and data protection have been enacted. ENABLING A CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ICT DEVELOPMENT There is an unfailing commitment of the Government to develop a business-friendly environment for the development of ICT sector.this is focused on five main pillars namely: > Policies > Legal framework > Institutional set-up > Telecommunications > Regulatory framework The effective legal and regulatory framework has played a decisive role in attracting foreign investment in ICT to Mauritius. Policies A number of policy measures have been taken by Government to create a sound telecommunications environment and to foster the development of the ICT sector.these include inter alia: > National Telecommunications Policy 2004 (NTP 2004) The NTP 2004 outlines the objectives and targets for the telecommunications sector and spells out the strategies to be adopted. It also sets out the methodology that would ensure fair, effective and sustainable competition for the new market paradigm. > Policy Framework for Internet Service Providers 2001 The Policy Framework for Internet Service Providers sets out the policy framework for the provision of Internet services in Mauritius. Government policy is to create an investment-friendly environment to enhance fair competition through a level playing field and to ensure Internet access at affordable costs. Development of a business-friendly regulatory framework 14

17 NATIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (CONT D) > ICT Incentive Scheme A competitive package of fiscal incentives is offered to operators of the ICT sector under the ICT Incentive Scheme which was introduced in Incentives offered can be in the form of reduced corporate tax, duty free import of equipment, tax exemption on dividends and reduced tariffs for electricity. Free repatriation of profits and capital is also allowed under this scheme. > Scheme to Attract Professionals for Emerging Sectors (SAPES) There is a need for a critical mass of ICT professionals in Mauritius.With a view to fostering the development of the services sector, Government introduced this scheme in 2003 to attract foreign professionals to work and live in Mauritius. SAPES targets mainly the ICT sector. ICT Regime providing fiscal incentives to ICT companies > Entrepreneurship Development An ICT Incubator Centre was set up by the National Computer Board (NCB) in 2003 with a view to promoting entrepreneurship development and start-ups in the ICT sector. A number of start-ups are operating in the centre in various areas such as software and multimedia development, Internet and web applications, e- Learning and e-business. > Corporatisation of Postal Services In view of the numerous challenges which new technologies and the Internet are posing to postal administrations worldwide and the growing demand from the public for more efficient services, Government has modernised and corporatised the Postal Services by setting up the Mauritius Post Ltd. 15

18 NATIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (CONT D) > Country code top level domain (.mu) Management of a country s domain name is an important policy issue that can be integral to the development of e-commerce applications. It is considered as a part of the overall e-commerce strategy that is being developed by Government. Appropriate policy decisions are required in relation to the national country code top-level domain (cctld), which ensures not only ease of registration of domain names but also overall confidence in the cctld space. A cctld Registry is being set up for the technical administration of the.mu domain name. Legal framework Appropriate legislations have been enacted to encourage the effective growth of the ICT sector namely: > Information and Communication Technologies Act 2001 The Information and Communication Technologies Act 2001 has repealed the Telecommunications Act This Act lays out the institutional and procedural guidelines for the regulation and democratisation of information and communication technologies and related matters. The setting up of the ICT Authority, the ICT Advisory Council, and the ICT Appeal Tribunal is pursuant to the adoption of this Act. > Postal Services Act 2002 This Act provides guidelines for the establishment of a regulatory authority for the postal, courier and ancillary services sector, for enhancing the systems and methods of operation and to provide for, where warranted, appropriate offences and penalties. > Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2003 This piece of legislation provides for repression of criminal activities perpetrated through computer systems and aims at better protection against computer misuse. It also caters for new forms of Cybercrime, such as illegal interception of data and online child pornography. > Data Protection Act 2004 The object of this Act is to provide for the protection of privacy rights of individuals in view of the developments in techniques used to capture, transmit, manipulate, record or store data relating to individuals. Appropriate legislations have been enacted Institutional set-up Paving the way towards a fully liberalised and competitive market implies the setting up of appropriate bodies to cater for the exigencies and requirements of the new environment. The following institutions have therefore been set up: > ICT Advisory Council This Council has been set up in virtue of the provisions of the ICT Act 2001 to advise the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications on specific issues. These include the promotion of interests of consumers, purchasers and other users in respect of quality, variety and improvement of ICT services, tariff policy and the promotion of research and development of new ICT techniques. 16

19 NATIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (CONT D) > ICT Authority The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), set up under the ICT Act 2001, is the regulatory body for the ICT sector. It carries out economic and technical monitoring of the ICT industry including the promotion of fair competition and efficient market conduct within the industry, and ensures appropriate control, inspection and regulation of the industry.the ICTA grants licenses to operators, allocates frequencies and ensures safety and quality of service in the ICT sector. > ICT Appeal Tribunal The ICT Appeal Tribunal is also an emanation of the ICT Act Its role is to hear and dispose of any appeal against a decision of the ICT Authority regarding disputes on ICT related matters. > Postal Authority The Postal Authority was set up under the Postal Services Act 2002 in order to regulate postal services. Its function is mainly to approve or fix rates for types of postal, courier or ancillary services offered by licensees. It also monitors the standard of services delivered by licensees and approves the issue of postage stamps, their themes and designs. > Data Protection Office A Data Protection Office is being set up under the Data Protection Act 2004 and which will be headed by the Data Protection Commissioner.The role of the Commissioner is to ensure compliance with this Act and issue or approve codes of practice or guidelines for the purposes of this Act. Liberalisation of telecommunications Government has brought forward the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector by one year, thus terminating the exclusivity of the incumbent operator as from 31 st December 2002.The sector actually comprises: (i) Two fixed line operators (ii) Three mobile operators (iii) Four Internet Service Providers and (iv) Five International Long Distance operators. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony is allowed in Mauritius. Regulatory Framework > New licensing framework A new licensing regime was instituted in July 2003 with a view to reinforcing the free and open competition in the liberalised multi-operator telecommunications sector. This new licensing structure favours the horizontal integration of businesses in a liberalised market as compared to the vertical integration of the pre-liberalised period. Liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in December 2002, one year ahead of schedule. 17

20 NATIONAL POLICIES AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (CONT D) > National Radio Frequency Plan A National Radio Frequency Plan was introduced in 2003.This Plan is a tool for radio spectrum management and its objective is to inform the industry and all users of the availability of radio spectrum in different bands for the coming years. > National Telecommunications Numbering Plan This plan provides for Mauritius to shift from 7-digits to 8-digits in January 2007 and caters for the country s needs for the next 20 years. Under this plan, numbers are categorised in various services according to the first digit. > Calling Party Pays (CPP) System The CPP system was introduced in October The idea behind the introduction of the CPP system is guided by the principle that all incoming calls are free of charge. Prior to the introduction of the CPP, both the dialling and the receiving parties were charged when using mobile phone networks. > Tariff Rebalancing Prior to liberalisation, tariffs for international telephony were kept high so as to subsidise the cost of local calls. Two Tariff Rebalancing exercises have been carried out with a view to introducing tariffs that reflect underlying cost of providing telecommunications services. The first phase of Tariff Rebalancing was carried out in October 2002 while the second phase, based on the cost and interconnection calculations, was completed in September 2003.This has resulted in a significant drop in international telecommunications costs. Along with the second Tariff Rebalancing exercise, the Per-Second Billing was introduced. Prior to this exercise, local calls were billed as per the number of calls made instead of the duration of the calls. > Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) IUC are charges payable between interconnecting operators for the actual use of each others network to originate, transit or terminate a call. Prior to liberalisation, the IUC were determined through commercial agreements between the interconnecting parties and were usually not cost-based. The approach adopted in Mauritius in determining IUC is cost-based. Two Tariff Rebalancing exercises have been carried out and Per-Second Billing has been introduced. > Universal Service Access It is the policy of the Government to ensure ubiquitous access to affordable info-communication services. A Universal Service Fund is being set up to provide ICT services in every corner of the country, especially in remote areas where operators are reluctant to offer their services. The Universal Service Fund has been structured around the following parameters: Affordability, Accessibility, Availability, Quality of Service and Sustainability. 18

21 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT > WORLD CLASS BUSINESS PARKS > THE BUSINESS PARKS OF MAURITIUS LTD (BPML) > THE EBÈNE CYBERCITY > THE CYBER TOWER > FORTHCOMING BUSINESS PARKS > STATE-OF-THE-ART TELECOMMUNICATIONS > FIXED TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE > WIRELESS LOCAL LOOP (WLL) > MOBILE TELEPHONY > BROADBAND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY > THE SAFE CABLE NETWORK > IPLC TARIFFS REDUCTION > SATELLITE GATEWAYS > BROADBAND NETWORKS > ADSL & SDSL > WI-FI > INTRODUCTION OF THIRD GENERATION OF MOBILE (3G) > DEMOCRATISATION OF THE INTERNET > COMMUNITY INTERACTIVE KIOSKS > COMMUNITY ACCESS POINT (CAP) > GROWTH OF INTERNET USAGE > ICT KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

22 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Driven by the ambition to transform Mauritius into a Cyberisland and to develop ICT as the 5 th pillar of the economy, the Government has spared no effort in setting up world class Business Parks and developing a modern telecommunications infrastructure. HI-TECH BUSINESS PARKS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART TELECOMMUNICATIONS World class Business Parks > The Business Parks of Mauritius Ltd (BPML) Government set up the BPML to spearhead the development, construction and management of state-of-theart Technology and hi-tech Business Parks in Mauritius. The major assignment of the BPML is the setting up of the Cybercity at Ebène, strategically situated in the centre of the island on the outskirts of Réduit, which houses the island's main tertiary educational institutions namely the University of Mauritius, the Mauritius Institute of Education, the Tertiary Education Council, the Mauritius College of the Air, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate. > The Ebène Cybercity The Ebène Cybercity is the first of its kind of a new generation of Technology Parks in this part of the world. The construction of the Ebène Cybercity is a historical milestone towards achieving the Government s objective of transforming Mauritius into a diversified, high-tech, high income services and knowledge economy. The entire Cybercity, spread over an area of about 172 acres, is wired with fibre optic to provide high bandwidth international connectivity.the major components of the Ebène Cybercity are: > A Cyber Tower, a 12-storey intelligent building of 42,274 m 2 with ultra-modern features > A Business Zone where land is leased to ICT operators setting up their own buildings > A Knowledge Centre for integrated ICT education and training at all levels > A Commercial Centre with a hypermarket, shops and a food court > A world class business hotel > A second intelligent building of 16,000 m 2 spread over 10 floors to be known as Cyber Tower II > A Cyber Village which is a modern residential complex on the periphery of the Cybercity A modern network of motorways links the Cybercity to the surrounding highly residential neighbourhood, the capital and the airport. 20

23 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) > The Cyber Tower The Cyber Tower is an intelligent 12-storey building equipped with ultra modern features, at par with hightech parks found in developed countries. This landmark building provides facilities such as video conferencing, conference halls, 24x7 restaurant and banks, amongst others. Operational since February 2004, the Cyber Tower has already attracted a number of ICT companies to conduct call centre, BPO, software development and multimedia activities. Infosys, the leading Indian ICT player, has set up its Disaster Recovery Centre in the Cyber Tower. The construction of the Ebène Cyber Tower has been realised with the technical and financial assistance of the Government of India. > Forthcoming Business Parks The setting up of a second Business Park by the BPML in the south of the island at Rose Belle is in the pipeline. Spread over 60 acres of land, this integrated park will be only 10 minutes drive from the airport. Educational and training facilities in ICT will be provided within a dedicated complex, side by side with activities of ICT operators in the Park. The Park will comprise a hypermarket, a shopping hall, a food court and leisure attractions. A similar project is also being planned in the north of the island at Goodlands on a 25-acre plot of land. The Cyber Tower is an intelligent 12-storey building equipped with ultra modern features State-of-the-art telecommunications A key driver for ICT development is the availability of a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure and broadband connectivity at competitive rates. Over the past years, a number of bold measures have been taken and massive investment has been made to provide modern telecommunications services, which is of strategic importance to ensure sustainable development of the ICT sector. 21

24 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) In 2000, Government privatised Mauritius Telecom by selling 40% of its shares to a strategic partner, France Telecom.The objectives were to derive the maximum benefit through the sharing of Research and Development of common solutions and further develop the national infrastructure. In response to the evolving operator/consumer demands in a fully liberalised and competitive market, the Governement came forward with a National Telecommunications Policy in 2004 (NTP 2004) with the following targets: > Increase fixed telephone density from 28% to 35% by 2005 > Increase mobile cellular telephone density from 37% to 50% by 2005 > Extend broadband connectivity to all business centres within the country by 2006 > Provide at least 30% of households with broadband connectivity by 2008 > Provide at least 50% of households with Internet connectivity by 2008 > Fixed Telecommunications Infrastructure Over the past years, the telecommunications infrastructure in Mauritius has evolved from a classical analogue network to a fully digital one, endowed with enhanced capabilities in terms of bandwidth, connectivity and valueadded services. > Wireless Local Loop (WLL) Mauritius Telecom has invested in a WLL network with a view to fulfilling its universal service obligations.this network is based on digital wireless CDMA technology, one of the most efficient and reliable access technologies to date. Hence, remote areas and locations, where the copper line network is saturated, can be connected via radio link to the national network, thus enabling the WLL subscribers to communicate with any part of the world. A second fixed line operator working solely on WLL technology is soon to start operating in Mauritius. > Mobile Telephony The mobile telephony market in Mauritius is currently serviced by two companies which operate two distinct fully digital cellular networks based on the GSM standard. In January 2004, a third operator was granted a licence to operate a mobile service based on CDMA technology. Following the introduction of the Short Message Service (SMS) in 2000, the mobile industry has witnessed an explosive growth. In 2002, the first mobile Internet portal in Mauritius was introduced, thus enabling interaction with the web through cellular phones. In April 2003, the first GSM cellular network was launched in Rodrigues Island. > Broadband international connectivity Mauritius is well connected to the rest of the world via satellite and the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable providing high bandwidth international connectivity. Two international gateways serve this purpose; one is located in Cassis and is connected to the Intelsat satellite system and the other is located in Baie Jacotet to provide undersea fibre optics connectivity through the SAFE network. 22

25 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) > The SAFE cable network Since January 2002, Mauritius has been connected to the SAFE/SAT3/WASC submarine fibre optic cable system which provides high bandwidth international connectivity. The SAFE cable network links Mauritius to Europe via South Africa and to Asia via India and Malaysia, thus placing the island on the information superhighway. Investment in the SAFE cable system is a historical milestone in the development of the telecommunications infrastructure in Mauritius. Within less than one year, international bandwidth usage for ICT has increased from 15 Mbps on satellite to 155 Mbps on SAFE fibre optic cable. SAFE secures international connectivity even during cyclones, providing an alternative high-speed link to the existing satellite routes. In addition, international bandwidth usage for the Internet has grown from 30 Mbps on satellite in 2002 to 90 Mbps on the SAFE cable network in > IPLC tariffs reduction Prior to May 2001, all international services were only available via satellite and IPLC tariffs were relatively high. For example, a 2 Mbps IPLC was charged at 40,000 USD per month on half-circuit on bilateral basis. In May 2001, a tariff revision was carried out to be in line with Government s policy to accelerate the development of the ICT industry, and consequently a 2 Mbps half-circuit was reduced to 19,556 USD, representing a decrease of 51%. Connection to the SAFE cable network has enabled a significant tariff reduction on international telecommunications services including International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC), IP connectivity to the Global Internet (IP IPLC & IP VPN).The setting up of a Point of Presence (PoP) in Telehouse in Paris by Mauritius Telecom in March 2003 has been instrumental in providing international bandwidth capacity on demand at reduced costs whilst allowing direct peering with international carriers and operators. For example, the tariff for a 2 Mbps fullcircuit IPLC from Mauritius to the PoP in France is now reduced to 12,600 USD per month. Overall a half-circuit 2 Mbps IPLC has been cut down by six fold, from 40,000 USD per month in 2000 to 6,300 USD per month in This remarkable decrease in tariff plays a decisive role in attracting foreign investment to Mauritius in the ICT sector. However, there is still room for further reduction to maintain the country s competitiveness for bandwidth and broadband connectivity. The following table indicates the reduction of IPLC tariffs in USD from 2000 to Connection to the SAFE cable network has enabled a significant tariff reduction Bandwidth (kbps) Half-circuit over satellite before 2000 Mauritius Telecom present tariff for half-circuit via SAFE to its PoP in Paris % decrease of halfcircuit tariff before 2000 via satellite and present tariff via SAFE to PoP in Paris Mauritius Telecom present tariff to its PoP in Paris for full-circuit ,024 2,048 4,000 6,800 10,000 12,000 16,000 20,000 24,000 28,000 40, ,300 1,550 1,700 2,200 2,550 3,250 4,400 6,300 76% 81% 85% 86% 86% 87% 86% 84% 84% 1,900 2,600 3,100 3,400 4,400 5,100 6,500 8,800 12,600 (Source: Mauritius Telecom) 23

26 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) Bandwidth usage increased nine-fold from September 2000 to June During this period, voice capacity increased from 20 Mbps to 47 Mbps while Internet bandwidth increased from 10 Mbps to 95 Mbps. The following table shows the growth of the bandwidth usage from September 2000 to June International Bandwidth Evolution for IPLC & IP (Mbps) Sep 2000 End 2001 SAFE 2002 Mar 2003 Jun 2003 Jul 2003 Aug 2003 Sep 2003 Oct 2003 Nov 2003 Dec 2003 Jan 2004 Feb 2004 Mar 2004 Apr 2004 May 2004 Jun 2004 (Source: Mauritius Telecom) > Satellite Gateways Some international links are still made through satellites. Each satellite earth station provides specific connectivity. With the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, private operators have already started operating new satellite gateways using Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technologies as an alternative to the incumbent operator s offer. This personal satellite earth station is also used by private businesses for the transmission of data and voice and access to corporate Virtual Private Networks (VPN). > Broadband Networks Appropriate measures have been taken during the past few years to keep pace with the rapid development in telecommunications and to cater for broadband networks. A number of broadband services were introduced including Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Frame Relay,Asymmetric and Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL & SDSL) and Wi-Fi. > ADSL & SDSL ADSL & SDSL services are available in 80% of the country for home users and businesses. This high-speed technology is up to 10 times higher than the standard 56k modem and requires only ordinary copper wire telephone lines. Users can simultaneously make telephone calls, receive fax and surf on the Internet. 3G mobile networks will be a reality in Mauritius as from January

27 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) > Wi-Fi Broadband Wireless used to be limited to the business premises for private use in Mauritius. However the real impact of Wi-Fi was felt in November 2003, when two private enterprises proposed the first Wi-Fi hot-spots in the Port-Louis region. Wi-Fi is a complementary solution to ADSL and corporate LAN providing wireless access to the Internet at a speed of up to 512 Kbps. Wi-Fi technology was also introduced in Rodrigues at the Human Resources Centre in February This technology, which is booming in other developed countries, is poised to develop rapidly in Mauritius in strategic places such as the international airport and hotels and targets mostly the business community who need unfettered access to the Internet. > Introduction of third Generation of Mobile (3G) The world of telecommunications has entered in a new era with the introduction of 3G mobile networks in several countries around the globe offering a plethora of new services. In Mauritius, the first generation (1G) mobile network appeared in 1989, and the second generation (2G) in The evolution of the mobile generation, from 2G to 3G establishes an important landmark in the history of telecommunications in any country. 3G mobile services will be offered in Mauritius as from 1st January Democratisation of the Internet The Government liberalised the Internet Service Provider (ISP) Sector in March 2001 when a policy framework for ISPs was issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications with the following two objectives: > Make Internet accessible to all for the socio-economic development of the country and > Promote collaboration within the telecommunications and ISP community for the benefit of Internet users and for optimal use of resources. Government has taken steps to provide Internet access points in schools, universities and other educational institutions, post offices and in Community Centres for a wider dissemination of ICT culture. > Community Interactive Kiosks The objective of the Community Interactive Kiosks is to provide citizens, who do not have access to a computer at home or at work, to have Internet access along with printing facilities within their locality.these kiosks will also allow citizens to have local and international telephone facilities. This service was launched in April In a first instance, 25 post offices in Mauritius and Rodrigues have been equipped with such kiosks. Some 100 post office personnel have received training to that effect. > Community Access Point (CAP) Government intends to democratise access to the Internet at community level with a view to enabling every citizen to have online access to Government services through the e-government project. With the CAP project, free public access to the Internet will become a reality. This will be achieved through the deployment of computers at host sites in various public places namely post offices and Citizen Advice Bureaus. 25

28 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) > Growth of Internet Usage The promotion of ICT culture coupled with the liberalisation of the ISP sector has contributed to the exponential growth of Internet users during the past years.the number of Internet users increased from 87, 000 in 2000 to 250, 000 in October ICT Key Performance Indicators Over the last few years, Mauritius has witnessed sustainable growth in terms of ICT usage, as depicted in the table below. Key Indicators Estimated population (Millions) Number of households 296, , , ,000 3 Fixed line teledensity 24% 26% 27% 28% 4 Cellular mobile phone teledensity 15% 25% 28% 38% 5 Estimated household Internet penetration 12% 13% 16% 18% (Source: CSO and National Computer Board) Number of Internet Users Oct 2004 (Source:Telecom Plus and NCB) The number of fixed telephone lines increased from 262,000 in 2000 to 350, 000 in October The number of cellular phone subscribers has grown from 180, 000 in 2000 to 525, 000 in October 2004, representing a three fold increase. Number of Fixed Telephone Lines Number of Cellular Phone Users Oct 2004 (Source: Mauritius Telecom and ICTA) Oct 2004 (Source: ICTA) 26

29 E-GOVERNMENT > E-GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE > E-GOVERNMENT MASTER PLAN > GOVERNMENT PORTAL > GOVERNMENT ONLINE CENTRE (GOC) > GOVERNMENT INTRANET SYSTEM (GINS) > GOVERNMENT SERVICES (GES) > INFORMATION SECURITY > TRAINING FOR CIVIL SERVICE > CIVIL SERVICE COMPUTERISATION

30 E-GOVERNMENT The e-government Task Force, the e-government Master Plan 2003, the operation of the Government Portal, the setting up of the Government Online Centre in the Ebene Cyber Tower and the on-going public sector computerisation are clear indications that Mauritius has undergone a long way in the e-government programme. E-POWERING THE PUBLIC SECTOR An e-government programme has been launched since 2001 with the objective of e-powering the public sector to deliver round-the-clock electronic services to the public. The aim of the e-government programme is to enable Ministries and Departments to integrate ICT within their operations and services with a view to enhancing effectiveness and efficiency. This Government initiative is driven by the e-government Task Force. Some of the projects undertaken by the e-government Task Force include: > Formulation of an e-government Master Plan for the civil service > Introduction of e-business Plans for Ministries and Departments > Setting up of the Government Portal > Setting up of a Central ICT Committee at the Prime Minister s Office (PMO) chaired by the Head of Civil Service > Setting up of the Government Online Centre > Creation of the post of Chief Information Officer (CIO) within each Ministry and the setting up of a Council of CIO s. E-Government Task Force The e-government Task Force, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, is an inter-ministerial committee set up in February 2001 to drive the implementation of the e-government initiative. Some measures taken by the e-government Task Force include: > The setting up of the Government Online Centre (GOC) to create a connected Government for better online communication between public sector institutions and online delivery of Government services. The GOC will also host the Government Portal that will act as a single window for interaction between the public and Government agencies. 28

31 E-GOVERNMENT (CONT D) > The establishment of a Government Intranet System (GINS) to connect individual Government departmental networks into a secure network to facilitate collaboration, information sharing and coordination of activities. > The setting up of Community Access Points in post offices to facilitate access by the public to Government and other services. > The computerisation of back office applications in Ministries and Departments to enable their services to be delivered online to the citizens and the business community. > The introduction of Information Security Standards in the Civil Service to provide the necessary guidelines to maintain the security of information systems. > The setting up of an IT Security Unit at the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications to assist Ministries and Departments to implement the information security standards and to carry out internal auditing of information systems. > The introduction of the e-government Interoperability Framework that sets out the technical policies and specifications to achieve interoperability and information coherence across the public service. > The preparation of an ICT Manual for the Civil Service to provide a comprehensive set of guidelines, standards and procedures with regard to ICT implementation and ICT services. > The introduction of a web design standards document for the display of a common look of websites in Ministries and Departments in terms of presentation and content. > The introduction of an Usage Policy document to give the necessary guidelines to eligible public officers for the proper use of facilities. Providing round-the-clock online services 29

32 E-GOVERNMENT (CONT D) E-Government Master Plan The Master Plan, which charts out strategies and action plans for the short, medium and long term for e-government, was formulated in The objective is to set a roadmap towards a coherent and integrated approach to implement e-government. Some key recommendations include: > Setting up of a National Information Infrastructure (NII) to enable the public at large to have online access to services in the context of living and working in a wired world. > Implementation of an e-procurement platform to enable the transition from traditional Government procurement to electronic procurement. > Introducing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to provide additional security across e-government applications. PKI will address authentication, encryption, privacy and confidentiality issues. > Investigating the possibility of implementing multi-channel technologies to access e-government services. Government Portal All Ministries and Departments have developed their own websites that can be accessed online through the Government Portal. All these websites have been designed in accordance with the Web Design Standards devised by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications. 30

33 E-GOVERNMENT (CONT D) Government Online Centre (GOC) The GOC project, initiated in 2001 by the National Computer Board (NCB), aims at creating a connected Government through which Ministries and Departments will communicate and work together for a better delivery of Governmental services. Secure Internet and facilities to public officers will be provided through the GOC. The GOC will operate horizontal applications, such as registry, personnel and stores packages, used across Government as well as certain departmental applications. It will also host the Government Portal to launch e-government services. These services will primarily be delivered round the clock through the Internet to business partners and the public in general. Citizens will henceforth be able to interact with the Government as one single body irrespective of the number of departments involved for the delivery of a particular service. The GOC is currently being set up by the NCB in the Ebène Cyber Tower and will be operational in early Government Intranet System (GINS) The GINS project is an important component of the e-government infrastructure for the interconnection of Governmental bodies. Under this project, all Ministries and Departments have been wired and all buildings interconnected into an integrated and secure network to facilitate collaboration, information sharing and coordination of activities within the Civil Service. GINS will establish the link between Ministries and Departments and the GOC for the electronic delivery of services. Government Services (GES) The GES project, initiated by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications in 2001, provides facilities to senior public officers with the objective of improving information flows and communication among Ministries and Departments, and with the public. To date, around accounts have been created for public officers of the rank of Higher Executive Officer and above.the Central Information Systems Division (CISD) of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications is responsible for creating and maintaining accounts for Government officers and providing first-level support.the CISD also operates a help desk to provide technical assistance for these facilities. With the coming into operation of the GOC, this facility will be extended to a larger number of public officers. Information Security In 2002, Government adopted ISO/IEC information security standards for implementation throughout the Civil Service in order to face threats posed by viruses, hackers, fraud, natural disasters and other dangers. These standards have been successfully implemented in four pilot sites with the assistance of external consultants and will be rolled out throughout the Civil Service. The IT Security Unit of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications is responsible for developing, implementing and disseminating information security policies and standards, training staff and carrying out information security audits in Ministries and Departments. The GOC is currently being set up in the Ebène Cyber Tower and will be operational in early