Telecommunications had an early beginning in Mauritius, with the first telephone line installed in 1883, seven years after the invention of the telephone.
Historically, the country is known for tourism, rather than its call centers and business process outsourcing. ==History== In 1883, basic telephony was introduced in Mauritius, only seven years after the invention of the telephone.
From that date, the telecommunications department took that responsibility. In 1893, Mauritius was linked to Seychelles (then part of Mauritius) and Zanzibar via a submarine telegraphic cable followed by Rodrigues in 1901 by the Eastern and South African Telegraph Company.
From that date, the telecommunications department took that responsibility. In 1893, Mauritius was linked to Seychelles (then part of Mauritius) and Zanzibar via a submarine telegraphic cable followed by Rodrigues in 1901 by the Eastern and South African Telegraph Company.
The telephone network was maintained by the Electricity and Telephone Department till 1956.
From 1985, Overseas Telecommunications Services, which subsequently became Mauritius Telecom Limited took over. The Central Information Systems Division (CISD), formerly known as Data Processing Division (DPD), was created in 1971.
The transmission rate of the telegraphic service was 15 words per minute, a historical revolution in those days. Before the independence of the country and till 1985, international communications were managed by Cable & Wireless, a private British company.
From 1985, Overseas Telecommunications Services, which subsequently became Mauritius Telecom Limited took over. The Central Information Systems Division (CISD), formerly known as Data Processing Division (DPD), was created in 1971.
The CISD nowadays is responsible for government payroll IT systems, government email, maintenance of all government/departmental websites and technical support. In 1987, a second standard B earth station and a domestic satellite network were installed with Rodrigues and the Outer Islands.
That same year, an X.25 Packet Switched data exchange was also installed. In July 1988, the state-owned Department of Telecommunications was privatised to become the Mauritius Telecommunications Services (MTS).
The CISD and CIB became departments within this new ministry. However, following the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) at the WTO, the 1988 Telecommunications Act was replaced with by the Telecommunications Act of 1998 which provided the legal framework to enable the emergence of a free and democratised telecommunications market on the island.
The CISD and CIB became departments within this new ministry. However, following the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) at the WTO, the 1988 Telecommunications Act was replaced with by the Telecommunications Act of 1998 which provided the legal framework to enable the emergence of a free and democratised telecommunications market on the island.
This act also created the Mauritius Telecommunications Authority (MTA) as a regulatory body for the telecommunications sector. With the development of Information and Communications Technologies, the Telecommunications Act of 1998 was replaced by the Information and Communication Technologies Act of 2001.
This act also created the Mauritius Telecommunications Authority (MTA) as a regulatory body for the telecommunications sector. With the development of Information and Communications Technologies, the Telecommunications Act of 1998 was replaced by the Information and Communication Technologies Act of 2001.
In 2007, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority directed internet service providers to block access to Facebook.
Nomad makes use of WiMAX, MTML uses CDMA2000 and Emtel uses HSDPA (3.5G). The monopoly is retained by Mauritius Telecom (MT) which provides dial-up & ADSL services over existing telephone lines. ===Internet censorship and surveillance=== In 2007, the government took down Facebook for a day.
In 2009, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority rejected an application from Outremer Telecom for a cellular telephony licence.
in 2016, a couple was arrested after sharing a post about the Minister of Housing and Lands on Facebook.
In September 2016, the Internet filtering and Public Key Infrastructure servers operated by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority were seized by the National Security Service. ==Notes and references== ==External links== ICT sector in Mauritius Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICT Authority) - The Authority is the national regulator for the ICT sector and Postal Services in Mauritius Internet in Mauritius
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Page generated on 2021-08-05