This was stated by Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam at the opening of the workshop ‘An Attractive ICT-BPO Destination’ on Wednesday at Le Meridien Hotel, Pointe aux Piments.
“Optical fibre connectivity is already provided to the business community and the government. Now, the FTTH project will soon be realised,” said the PM.
“Today, the penetration of mobile telephone is nearly 100 per cent. Ninety per cent households have a fixed line and with more than 100,000 broadband access lines, Mauritius is the leader in this part of the world,” he added.
Commenting on the ICT-BPO sector, he said that reliable, resilient and high capacity international connectivity is crucial.
“Mauritius is already equipped with two submarine cable stations providing the country with competitive access to the world. I am pleased to learn that an iconic brand, Hewlett Packard, has chosen to open an office in Mauritius. This augurs well for the future of the sector,” he said.
The PM also said that he is determined to make Internet accessible in every corner of the island.
The new ID card as well as the e-Judiciary are part of the project to transform Mauritius into a cyber island.
According to the minister of Information and Communication, Tassarajen Chedumbrum Pillay, “The ICT sector today represents 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product.”
“This sector is the fastest growing economic pillar – growing by around 14.0 per cent on average for the past five years. With more than 500 companies and a workforce of 15,000, it is indeed a promising sector,” added Pillay.
He highlighted that everywhere new markets are opening up, new workforces are emerging, and new ways of working are challenging thinking.
“We are in a revolutionary stage of globalisation where talent and brainpower are becoming the predominant currency,” said the minister.