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Friday, September 5, 2008

News on Sunday - 8 August 2008

The IT and Telecommunications Minister announced at the Infotech fair that the public can expect further falls in communication tariffs. Minister Etienne Sinatambou said that efforts are already underway and the new tariffs will be made available soon. “Government knows how difficult it is for the poorest people to access technology and all our efforts are to ensure that we remain on track with our NICT plan to make Mauritius a cyber island by 2011.

“The plan contains 124 ICT projects and 56 were initiated, 48 have been earmarked this year and in the next financial year 19 will be launched. We are currently in the process of finalising the Universal Service Fundwherein the industry will contribute Rs 100 million yearly to the USF that will invest the money to put in place infrastructure and facilitate access to IT,” said Minister Sinatambou.

He added: “An Internet Management Committee has now reached its final stage and will be responsible to act as Internet watchdog and to define a code of practice in line with the ICT plan.”

An agreement between Mauritius and the US on a Trade and Investment Framework was sealed to develop cooperation in the ICT sector. The Minister also announced that soon Mauritians would be able to procure personal computers starting from Rs 10,000 following an MOU signed between Mauritius and AMD, a computer assembling firm.