Telecommunications overview
Mauritius Telecom (MT) is the incumbent fixed line network operator,
which emerged from the former Telecommunications Department in 1988. The operator has a monopoly over basic telephone services until the end of 2003. Section 29 of the Telecommunications Act, vesting voice transmission in MT, precludes the use of VoIP by any of the public service providers.
International telecommunications are handled by the Overseas Telecommunications Services. In 2000, France Télécom acquired a 40% stake in MT for US$261 million. One of the primary objectives of the operator’s privatisation was to attract an equity investor to help expand
and modernise the Mauritian telecommunications infrastructure, thus allowing MT to play a role in the future privatisation plans of other regional service providers.
Mauritius belongs to a number of international and regional organisations which are concerned with telecommunications policies. The two key organisations which have the most influence in the telecommunications sector in southern Africa, including Mauritius, are the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Southern Africa Transport and Communications Commission (SATCC). Mauritius is also signatory to two satellite transmission providers, namely the International Satellite Communications Organisation (Intelsat), now privatised, and the International Mobile Telecommunications Organisation (Inmarsat). Mauritius’ commitment to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
stipulates that the telecoms sector on the island be completely liberalised by 2004. So far, the mobile, paging and internet markets have been opened to competition.
The SAFE submarine fibre-optic cable, which runs within 40 kilometres of
Port Louis, is the first terrestrial fibre optic link for Mauritius to the internet/telephone backbone, and will allow for greater reliability and speed of internet and voice traffic. MT invested some US$20m in this project.
Telecom performance indicators
| Indicator |
2000 |
2001 |
| Fixed line network |
| Lines connected |
285,000 |
310,000 |
| Equipped capacity |
299,034 |
320,000 (est.) |
| Waiting list |
19,404 |
19,100 (est.) |
| Average waiting time for line installation |
1 week - 6 months |
1 week - 6 months |
| Teledensity |
23.75 |
25.83 |
| Digitalisation switching (%) |
100% |
100% |
| Number of staff |
1,815 |
1,823 |
| Mobile network(s) |
| Number of mobile operators |
2 |
2 |
| Total mobile subscribers |
163,800 |
212,940 (est.) |
| Teledensity |
13.65 |
17.75 |
| Number of digital leased lines |
| International |
23 |
22 |
| Local |
783 |
820 |
| Number of public telephones |
2,925 |
2,981 |
| Number of internet accounts |
34,845 |
35,000 |
Regulatory environment
The telecoms market is regulated by the Mauritius Telecommunications Authority (MTA), created by the Telecommunications Act of 1998. The MTA’s
competencies include:
- Implementation of government policy related to the telecoms
industry
- Assistance in formulation of national policies with respect to
regulation and development of the telecoms sector
- Establishment of performance standards for public operators and
monitoring of compliance to such standards
The Act also created the Telecommunications Advisory Council, which is
responsible for:iders.
- The promotion of the interests of users of telecommunications
services and equipment
- The promotion of research and development of new telecommunications
techniques
- The improvement of telecommunications services.
Both organisations report to the Minister for Technology and
Communications.
