This section reviews Mauritius's Telecom industry, its history, regulation, and liberalization.

 The first telephone in Mauritius was installed in October 1883 and further telegraph services were available in 1901. [ITU, 2004]

Established in 1988 Mauritius Telecommunication Service Ltd. (MTS) managed telecommunication within the country. The Overseas Telecommunication Services Ltd. (OTS) provided international telecommunication services from 1968 through 1985. In 1992 both companies MTS and OTS merged to become Mauritius Telecom. [ITU 2004]

In 1997, 69 countries signed the WTO telecommunication agreement. Mauritius made an commitment to implement WTO telecommunication agreement by January 1, 2005.

Mauritius Telecom had exclusive right to provide PSTN and other international service. The license to provide PSTN and international service was issued to Mahaganar Telecom, an Indian subsidiary. However, service has not rolled out to consumers.

A subsidiary of Mauritius Telecom Cellplus Mobile Communication and Emtel Ltd. are two major players in mobile industry in the country. Mahaganar has license to service in mobile industry but have not started its operations.

In 2003 the population of the Mauritius was 1.23 million and about 348 thousand fixed telephone lines were connected and about 462 thousand mobile subscribers. With 77% of fixed telephone line penetration and estimated 80% fixed and mobile telephone penetration, Mauritius stand third largest in Africa in 2003. Average cost of the telephone line is about Rs. 78 (US$2.5) and according to the analyst with less than 3% of salary 98% of the household in the country could afford a phone line. Despite low cost only 27.20 fixed phone lines per 100 inhabitants was accounted in 2003 and 27.76 mobile line per 100 inhabitants.

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Home
Mauritius, a Cyber island

Country Analysis
Analysing IT Strengths and Weaknesses

ICT Market Size in Mauritius
... a fifth pillar of the economy

ICT Policies
A Computer in Every Home

Telecomunication in Mauritius
Telephone Penetration is 80% HH & 98% HH can afford to own a phoneline

Diffusion & Culture in Mauritius
10.8% HH uses Internet and 43% own a PC

E-Commerce & E-Buiness
75% of buinesses have internet access and 21.3% have a web-site

E-Government
'Government Online Centre' a portal for all government online Services and Delivery Channel

ICT Production, Workforce, IT Activities in Mauritius
15% Growth in IT Training and Education Enrollment

Information Policy & Law in Mauritius
e-laws in Information Society

External Links and Source
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