Mauritius: Government will support stakeholders in the ICT sector to create and strengthen a national ecosystem for sustainable development, stated the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Darsanand Balgobin, in his speech at a networking event organised by ATCOMM, yesterday evening, at Lux Grand Bay.
The Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr Mahendranuth Hurreeram; the Chief Executive Officer of the Bee Equity Partners Ltd and Chairman of ATCOMM, Mr Olivier Fayolle; the Chief Executive Officer of ATCOMM, Mr Sebastien Dalais, and other personalities were also present at the event.
Minister Balgobin congratulated ATCOMM for completing 25 years of operations in the telecommunication sector in Mauritius and in the region and underlined that digital transformation is a crucial stepping stone in the transformation of Mauritius.
He also recalled that new measures and policies are constantly being implemented to enable a conducive environment for business.
According to the ICT Minister, broadband access is growing rapidly in Mauritius as internet subscriptions for 2021 stood at 1.8 million and mobile phones at 1.91 million. With ever-expanding options for high-quality communication and internet services from telecom, cable, wireless, and satellite internet providers, Mauritian citizens and businesses can enjoy enhanced flexibility in purchasing and consuming services, he said.
Speaking of cybersecurity, Mr Balgobin pointed out that Government has taken several steps through policies and legislation and international cooperation to fight cybercrime in the country. Moreover, he lauded ATCOMM’s Space Project, which involves the hosting of an LEO Ground Station to track Low Earth Orbit Satellites in the region.
For Minister Hurreeram, ATCOMM is a telecommunication company which has accompanied the population during the transition of technology and communication in the early 2000s.
The ICT industry presently employs thousands of employees and is a crucial pillar of the Mauritian economy, he emphasised, adding that 65% of the Mauritian workforce works in the private sector.
He stressed that the private sector has significantly contributed to the ICT industry and that Mauritius is today a key player in telecommunications, trade and financial services. The Government is favouring investment to ensure that young entrepreneurs have the required support and set up their businesses, he added.
The alliance between the public and private sector is key in Government’s mission to consolidate the economy, improve the standard of living and for the country to progress, he underscored.
As for Mr Dalais, he announced that ATCOMM would soon be launching its first Low Earth Orbit ground station in Mauritius, which he highlighted will mark a major milestone in the country in tracking neo satellites crossing our borders. ATCOMM, he indicated, will continue to invest and support local talents and upgrade and enhance its services by offering secured connectivity solutions to businesses.