We recently did a survey on computer illiteracy in Mauritius which revealed alarming facts. 63% of people are computer illitrate and 21% of people having a computer never have access to internet because of its excessive price.

Our country is facing many difficulties in terms of reduced income from sugar and textiles. Now our only hope is the ICT sector. But the main problems are that we don’t have enough qualified people in ICT and the internet rate is extremely high compared to other countries. Obviously this factor will discourage investors from coming to Mauritius.

In the Budget for 2006/2007, there will be a reduction of 25% on SAFE,a good initiative from the government. But what about the monopoly of Mauritius Telecom? In 2005, there was a reduction of 20% on SAFE. Adsl was reduced by only 5%. Why is MT refusing to reduce its price? What about ICTA?

There was an interesting programme on Tele Objective on MBC about Mauritius as a Cyber Island. Sir, at the end of the emission, you were asked about the price of internet but you did not fully reply to this question. Are you happy with the price of internet in Mauritius? Let me remind you that in some European countries Adsl 20Mb is Rs 400, in India Adsl 1Mb is Rs 500, in Pakistan 1Mb is Rs 900. Whereas in Mauritius Adsl 1Mb is Rs 6400.

Let’s bring the Adsl 128Kb lower than Rs 500 and remove vat from it. I am sure that within a few months, MT will have 20,000 clients instead of 10,000. MT will lose nothing as the amount of clients will double. If MT does not decrease its price soon, then we will have to choose foreign operators like MTML. It is high time to work for our cyber island. Reduce the number of computer illiterates. Make internet affordable so that every family gets access. Break all monopolies in telecommunications. Our country will only succeed with the help of MT, ICTA and your government.

<B>Ashlay</B> <I>Student of Royal College of Port-Louis</I>