Committee set up to advise on ICT development.

Seychelles is the latest COMESA member country to receive financial and technical assistance from the organisation in setting up a national ICT committee.

The National Information and Communication Technology Consultative Committee will provide the government with policy direction and advice on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in the country.

The committee was launched following a half-day workshop on the terms of reference of the Regional Information and Communication Technologies Support Programme (RICTSP), chaired by Comesa's ICT coordinator Mercedes Marin Nortes.

The committee brings together the most knowledgeable and influential stakeholders in ICT matters from the country’s public and private sectors.

The minister responsible for technology, Jacquelin Dugasse says the Committee, “will act as a forum for the discussion of ideas which will lead to more effective use of ICT across the country and also resolve any issues that are identified as impeding ICT development.”

Critics have in the past questioned the government’s commitment in placing access to ICT at the centre of the country’s development agenda.

Earlier this month in his response to the 2007 budget speech, the leader of the opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan say “Seychelles should not only remain abreast of developments in ICT but also be part of the innovative process in order to optimize its full potential.”

No reports of the committee’s works have been made public yet.

Coming soon: Seychelles’ first online business directory.

iMedia (Seychelles) Limited, has announced plans to launch the country’s first Online Yellow Pages Website in July 2007.

The launch will coincide with the delivery of Seychelles’ 2007/08 telephone directory.

iMedia is the local advertising company contracted to publish and supply the new Seychelles telephone directory for the next five years.

“The online directory will be updated on a daily basis so as to include new customers as they are added by the telecommunication operators,” according to iMedia’s General Manager Gilbert Lebon.

A spokesperson of the Chamber of Commerce described the move as “an exciting marketing opportunity for local businesses and organisations to advertise and promote their brands, products and services.”

The service will combine telephone number entries from Airtel, Cable & Wireless, Intelvision and Kokonet.

iMedia’s Project Manager, Elaine Suleman says, “this will be a valuable search engine for customers, but more importantly, it will serve the needs of new businesses that start operating after the directory is printed.”

Local businesses have until 15th January 2007, to forward their existing yellow page facts such as name, address, contact details and website information to info@imedia.sc.

Rumour has it…

Cable & Wireless Seychelles has appointed an interim Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Usman Saadat.

Charles Hammond, who was the company’s Financial Controller, now heads Seychelles’ largest telecommunication until a permanent replacement is named.

The highlight of Mr Saadat’s two years tenure is the setting up of the Rs65m GPRS system, making Cable & Wireless the first local telecommunication company to offer Mobile Internet.

According to reports in a local paper, Mr Saadat whose work permits expired on November 2nd, wanted to stay in Seychelles until March 2007, but was refused an extension to his work permit by the government.

Regar newspaper labeled the decision not to grant a work permit to the head of a large company as “regrettable,” because: “it shows that Government still acts according to its own whims when it comes to treating foreign investors.”

So far there’s been no denial or confirmation of the story from either Cable & Wireless or the government.

Promoting ICT in education is the key.

African francophone countries have been motioned to integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their educational systems to move the continent forward.

The recent Summit of the Francophone organisation held in Bucharest, warned member states that poor ICT infrastructure will widen the digital divide and aggravate their marginalisation.

The summit held under the theme: information and communication technologies in education, was aimed at looking at how impoverished countries can employ ICTs in tackling factors hindering their progress.

Being one of the eight head of states to address the XI summit, the Seychelles’ President, James Michel said: “Promoting the use of ICTs in education could be a way out of the predicaments facing Africa, by re-enforcing its capacity which is central to its strategic development.”

Mr Michel pondered on the summit’s theme by sharing the experience of Seychelles.

“Being isolated from the rest of the world, with very limited natural resources, 65% of the population being young people and having no universities, Seychelles has to rely heavily on ICTs to handle the pace of globalisation,” said President Michel.

The summit called for the creation of a Francophone society of knowledge, urging member states to employ ICT as a tool of learning in primary and secondary schools, to boost capacity building.

Another resolution called for a pledge to fight digital inequalities, improve basic infrastructures and increase Internet Access.

President Michel summed up that ICT also serve as a vehicle to uphold democracy, by enhancing freedom of expression, human rights, good governance and the rule of law, all of which are ideals promoted by the Francophone organization.

The next summit, scheduled for October 2008, will be held in Quebec City, Canada.

Local paper seeks clarification over the e-government’s project.

Ten months after Vice-President Joseph Belmont’s declaration that “efforts towards the government offering electronic services continue to edge closer to realisation,” questions are being raised about what is happening to the e-government project.

In a rare article on ICT issues, the latest issue of the (Le Nouveau)Seychelles Weekly says the ministry concerned should enlighten the public about the demise of this project.

On its popular page 3 column “As told to Troukler,” the headline screams: What on earth happened to the e-government project? Troukler (the columnist) is the Creole description for a simple man of great wisdom, feared by many because of his uncanny ability to see things as they really are.

The columnist reminds its readers that it was amidst much “fanfare and publicity,” that Seychelles announced its intention to introduce the project. An expert was flown in from Canada to advise the government on the virtues and benefits of e-government.

Speakin about the project in January, the principal Secretary for technology, Benjamin Choppy said: “At the moment, the MITC is working with different government ministries and departments, assisting them with their computerisation processes.”

The column says it is incomprehensible why the government did not embark on this project at all.

As Seychelles is an archipelago, one of the many benefits of the project is that people from all the inhabited islands will eventually be able to apply for driving licences, planning permission, passports, a plot of land and file Pension Fund returns, etc, online from their own premises and without having to come to the main island Mahé at great expense.

Editor’s note: Seychelles Digital has reported on the e-government’s initiative. I’ve also approached various local ICT specialists about this project and there are indications that there are problems in its implementation.

Protests over freedom of expression.

The normally peaceful islands of the Seychelles have witnessed a rare eclipse of political unrests over the rights to operate private radio.

The violence between protestors and riot police took place on Tuesday (03rd October)during the sitting of the National Assembly to vote on the Amendment of
the Broadcasting and telecommunication Bill 2006.

A group of opposition supporters had gathered to protest against the move accusing the ruling SPPF party of robbing their constitutional right of freedom of expression.

They insisted on signing a petition calling on the President not to sign the Amendments into law.

The police said the protest was illegal and responded by using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

A move condemned by the international media rights body Reporters Without Borders (RSF)as “excessive.”

The Opposition Leader Wavel Ramkalawan was assaulted and wounded during the unrest and was hostipalised together with four others.

The health authorities reported that 25 people reported for medical treatments, whilst police detained SNP's Secretary General Roger Mancienne.

The amendments seek to prohibit all political parties; religious organisations or person(s) affiliated to a political group to own a license to operate a private radio station.

The government argued that allowing the opposite might incite future unrest, giving the cause of the Rwandan genocide as an example.

In his address before the assembly the minister for technology Jacquelin Dugasse says the move was to stop the Seychelles National Party (SNP)'s attempt to launch it's own radio station.

“Seychelles is not inventing an undemocratic rule. South Africa, Mauritius and the United Kingdom have similar laws and they are all democratic models,” say Dugasse.

But Mr Ramkalawan characterised the move as unconstitutional and said the debate is much larger than banning particular interest groups. He objected to the R800, 000 ($149, 000) annual radio license fee and labeled the national broadcaster, SBC the “government mouthpiece.”

“If the SBC was fulfilling its mandate objectively, Seychelles would not need
another radio station. Above all through its signatory of the various international conventions, the government should safeguard the people's right to freedom of expression.”

The amendment was approved unanimously in the absence of the opposition members, who walked out in protest over the police handling of the demonstration.

Only electronic visa application forms are now valid.

Since October 2006, only electronic visa application forms are accepted for US visa requests, following a decision taken US State Department.

The policy is being applied worldwide.

In a press communiqué the State Department says the move will permit a rapid process of nonimmigrant visa applications and provide more efficient service.

Individuals who do not have access to the Internet at home or in offices may access the forms at any one of the multiple Internet cafes located in Seychelles.

Information must be entered into the system and the application, with its barcode, must be printed out and sent to the consular section for application.

The on-line visa forms can be downloaded from the US State Department website at http://evisaforms.state.gov.

Further information on the visa application procedures, can be obtained on the embassy’s website at http://mauritius.usembassy.gov.

Winning at GEM Awards 2006.

Journalists from 13 Southern African countries were honoured this year at the second annual Gender and Media Awards. The ceremony was held at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, north of Johannesburg.

Gervais Henrie, an SBC radio producer, won the Radio Talk Show category. Other winners were from Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.

The panel of judges – who named Henrie as their choice in this category – described the programme as “concise and taking into accounts all key issues related to the debate."

The awards recognise and acknowledge good gender and media practice and were introduced in 2004, as part of the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) summit, which takes place every two years in South Africa.

Henrie is the first Seychellois media practioner to win the award.

“I believe the media has an important role in promoting issues that’s relevant to the Information Society. Hopefully, my work helps in a small way to that end,” said Henrie.

The awards are given in four categories: radio, television, print and photojournalism categories.

Each winner took home a 2000 rand cheque as well as a handmade dish.

C&W adds Internet to mobiles.

Cable & Wireless Seychelles has announced plans to enable users of its mobile phone services to access the Internet with the launch its new MMS & GPRS services.

The company said they wanted to encourage more mobile users to access the Internet using their phones.

Cable & Wireless chief executive Usman Saadat said “We're proud to be the first to offer the people of Seychelles what they've been wanting and anxiously waiting for - latest GSM services that are comparable to that which are offered abroad.”

The Nokia’s representative (C&W’s GSM partner), Petteri Paasila said: “With the latest Nokia Networks technology C&W’s customers will be able to enjoy state-of-the-art network quality and advanced mobile services such as Web browsing for the first time in the Seychelles.”

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a technology that allows you to create, send, and receive text messages that also include an image, audio, and/or video clip. MMS messages can be sent from one mobile phone to another or to an e-mail address.

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and is a technology that allows your phone to transfer data at moderate speeds over the GSM network. A useful benefit of GPRS technology is WAP, short for Wireless Application Protocol, which gives you the ability to browse the Internet from your mobile phone or PDA whilst on the move. Using GPRS you can also use your phone as a modem to connect your laptop/PC to the Internet.

MMS message is temporarily available to any e-mail address and to any local C&W prepaid or post-paid mobile phone that has also been set up for MMS. C&W intends to introduce international MMS in the near future.

Kokozone: Making Seychelles wireless.

Kokonet has moved into the provision of wireless Internet access for residents all over Seychelles’ main island, Mahé.

The local Internet Service Provider has made the service available in specific locations marked as hotzones and is offered using the WiFi technology.

Mobility has become an increasingly important part of the Internet services as the battle for users moves from the home PC to mobile devices such as laptops and mobile phones.

The Marketing Executive for Kokonet, Romano Lawrence says “our objective is to give the Seychellois customers, as well as our visitors, the ability to use the Internet whilst on the move at an affordable rate.”

The service allows WiFi-enabled laptop, smart phone and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) users to access the Internet, their e-mails, company intranet and download files, all wirelessly.

Kokonet has installed equipment in selected areas that will eventually provide a countrywide WiFi coverage. Among the spots receiving coverage at present are the centre of Victoria, the International Airport at Pointe Larue, Victoria Port and a number of high profile hotels.

The hotzones providing the Kokozone service is identified by the distinctive orange coloured logo with black and red writings with the company's official
Coco-de-Mer symbol displayed.

To use the Kokozone service, customers have to purchase a prepaid scratch card at R100 providing two hours of access. To log on the service, customers have to configure their settings, launch their browser in any Kokozone area, insert a web address and they will automatically be directed to the Kokozone web page. Then you have to enter the pin number obtained from the scratch card in the login box and get connected.

Kokozone hotspots are expected to come up in most areas on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue by the end of the year.

Seychelles’ new age election campaign.

The recent presidential election held in Seychelles during the last weekend of July has introduced new ways for candidates to reach the voters.

The traditional use of posters, banner and music still make campaigning a colourful affair in the islands archipelago of the Indian Ocean.

But recently the political parties have increasingly used new technology to make their pitch.

The growing number of mobile phone users and increasing use of the Internet provided the three candidates a new campaign platform. They were busy sending catchy text messages to voters through mobile phones.

The ruling SPPF party and the main opposition party, the SNP both launched their own interactive websites to communicate with their voters.

The sites list the candidates’ political, educational and family background as well as their achievements and that of their parties. Surfers can send their feedback as well as questions, which were answered by them.

Party officials said by using Short Messaging Service (SMS) and e-mail, the candidates can directly target voters who may otherwise be apathetic.

In what was the toughest race for the presidency the country has seen since the re-introduction of multiparty politics in Seychelles in 1992, the campaign forced the parties to examine innovative ways of getting their messages across.

James Michel of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) polled 30,119 votes which was 53.73 percent of the total valid votes cast whereas the main opposition candidate, Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party (SNP)/Democratic Party (DP) alliance, collected 25,626 votes or 45.71 percent.

The remaining 314 valid votes went to independent candidate Philippe Boullé for a 0.56 percentage.

Seychellois strive to beat media control.

State domination of Seychelles' media could be undermined in the years ahead as Seychellois are increasingly turning to the Internet, cable and satellite TV channels from overseas.

Viewers with satellite dishes can now tune into a host of overseas channels, as possession of satellite dishes for personal use is now legal in Seychelles. Although most of these channels simply offer Western-style entertainment and talk shows, yet they are still more popular than any other programmes available on state-run TV.

The satellite dishes approval procedures was last revised in January 2004. As of then, a licence fee of SR2000 per annum or SR8000 for five years exists for satellite dishes greater than 1.8m but equal to 2.4m for private use.

To date some 150 licences have been issued for personal usage, leisure centers, small hotel, guesthouses, large hotels and establishments.

An environmental fee also exists varying according to the size of the dish ranging from SR1000 to SR15, 000 (for dishes from 0m to 3.6m or more), whilst a 25% trade tax is applicable on all imported satellite dishes.

Meanwhile, since its inception just over a year ago, the sole cable television provider, Intervision has a consumer base of 3500 households. A company spokesperson says Intervision has a growth of 150 new connections per month.

Within Seychelles, the broadcast media are firmly under state control. A licences fee of SR800, 000 for private channel has long been criticised as too exorbitant by critics. The state broadcaster runs one TV channels and two radio networks.

The situation has since led to an explosion in the number of Internet users in Seychelles. With the setting up of three Internet Service Providers (ISPs), since the introduction of the worldwide web on these shores in 1996, the Internet is gaining wider appeal, not just among young people. Figures released by the department of Information and Communication Technology (MITC) shows an amount of 3501 Internet account holders up to March this year. However, the total the number of people online in Seychelles is still unknown,

But critics maintain that the high online fees, slow connection speeds and lack of access to computers means the Internet is still a luxury used mainly by high-earners Seychellois.

Space ‘95 enters local software development sector.

Managing all aspect of a company’s human resources system (HRS) from one terminal is a cost-effective measure that most companies would welcome with open arms.

Imagine an application that enables an organisation to quickly and accurately prepare and maintain records of all aspects of HRS, namely payroll, time attendance and a web-based application that stores employees’ details whilst allowing them access to their personal data kept by the organisation.

This new application, called OfficeSpace HRS is the latest product from Space ‘95, which the company says is designed and custom-built for the Seychelles business environment.

“The applications will not only make the business more productive but will also allow for easy analysis of the business at any point in time,” says Space ‘95 Sales & Marketing Manager, Jaya Nair.

The suite is composed of a series of modern business applications, designed in a way to transform those tedious tasks to easy push-button technology. Space ‘95 says the different modules can easily integrate with each other and can simply be customized to suite each business environment.

This latest development is aimed at forging a marketplace for Space ‘95 in the local software development sector alongside VSC, which has already known international success with its computerised front-office, reservations and back office software system (a Microsoft Windows 95/NT based software) which is marketed under the trade name Vista.

Seychelles secures first partnership deal.

One of Seychelles’ national ambitions is to equip all educational institutions from primary to post-secondary schools with state-of-the-art computer rooms.

However, critics have long argued the government cannot afford such costly target on its own, without a little help from foreign backed partnerships.

A suggestion that has indeed struck the right chord through the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding between the department of Education and the non-governmental organisation Iceland Seychelles Development Group.

The partnership was signed between the Seychellois Minister for Education, Danny Faure and the head of this highly specialised computer technicians group, Gudmundur Holmsteinsson.

Under the agreement, the Icelandic group will sponsor computer software and other technical equipment, especially those that are easy to use and geared towards children aged between 6 and 12 years old. It also covers training for teachers in the use of the new education software.

According to the acting director general of Education Technology, Robin Zarine, the assistance from the group would enable the department to further extend computer learning to younger children in all primary schools.

“ICT would not form part of the primary pupils' formal education curriculum, but emphasis would be put on the use of computers for fun. The more they get used to using the technology, the easier it would be for the young children to grasp computer education when they reach secondary school,” according to Mr Zarine.

He said the educational software that are to be put at the young children's disposal has been developed specifically for children and would help accelerate learning in areas like writing, mental activities, spelling, reading and so on.

Until now, only students in post-secondary schools were having access to computer education, which forms part of their school curriculum.

Government declares war on computer illiteracy.

Children in Seychelles’ primary schools are having a unique opportunity to play and learn about some of the latest technologies under a new plan to launch computers in primary schools as a teaching and learning tool.

On the occasion of this year’s national Children’s Day, students of the Port Glaud primary school in the west of Mahe, were the first to receive a well-equipped computer room.

The donation was made by the Seychelles Iceland Development Group as part of a joint project between the group and the ministry of education to provide all primary to post secondary learning institutions with computer laboratories.

Speaking at the donation ceremony, the education minister Danny Faure said, “

Seychelles has now entered a new battle. I hereby declared a national war directed at the elimination of illiteracy in the domain of information and communication technologies

(ICT).”

However, critics say the foreign exchange scarcity crippling this Indian Ocean’s tourist heaven is a major set back to the government’s plan to furnish all educational institutions with computer laboratories.

Already plans to set up a second computer class in all secondary schools have been put on hold because of lack of funds. Critics say a way around this hitch, is for the government to enter partnership agreements with various international grouping that could provide the necessary technical support.

The Seychelles Iceland Development Group plans to supply 200 computers that will fully equipped 5 primary schools (out of 23) with a modern computer room by the end of the year.

Despite the odds, minister Faure said “for the past decade or so, the Seychelles education system has been revolutionary and progressive – a clear indication that we are constantly researching and keeping abreast of new developments in education, in order to offer the youths of our country better opportunities so that they can succeed in their studies and prosper later on in life.”

Seychelles assembly calls on government to be pro-active

Aunt Johnette Mambe is a pensioner who lives in the north of Mahe. She's never used a mobile phone or type on a computer, let alone knowing the meaning of the acronym ICT. But all this could change soon.

The Seychelles National Assembly approved a motion tabled by a member from her region, which called on the government and private sector to increase access to communication facilities at the district level.

All members who supported the motion argued that the government has been slow in introducing measures that could encourage the wider use of ICT in everyday life. As a result, aunt Johnette so far has been left on the wrong side of the “digital divide.”

Presenting the motion, SPPF MNA Daniel Frichot said “the time has come to bring ICT to the reach of everyone.”

Citing the Seychelles government's plan, in partnership with India to set up an IT Centre here, Frichot called on the private sector to complement the effort. “This will transform the actual situation, bringing low-cost, accessible information and communication technologies to narrow the digital divide.”

Whilst supporting the motion the opposition members drew attention to existing limitations, namely the scarcity of foreign exchange and a lack of infrastructure.

An affordable telephone system and fast Internet access right in the heart of aunt Johnette's and other communities is what the country needs.

Digitalising the Assembly

For too long now, local ICT experts have blamed the Seychelles’ National Assembly in particular for failing to make use of modern communication methods such as the Internet.

One critic says, “the Assembly is failing to communicate effectively with the public it serves. A website is part of a wider reform needed to improve communication with the public, its interactivity will fulfil its role as a portal for democracy.”

But with a little help from their friends, the Chinese, the organisation, procedures and general ethos of the National Assembly may not be “seriously out of date” for very long.

The institution recently received a donation worth US $50,000 of ICT equipment from the National People’s Congress of the Republic of China.

The equipment comprised 20 computer sets, 10 printers, 5 laptops, 10 sets of cartridge, 4 TV sets, 4 DVD players and 4 mobile phones.

Whilst the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Geng Wenbing chose to call the donation “a clear evidence of continued collaboration between the two countries”, the speaker of the National Assemble, Francis MacGregor, called it “an ideal tool to capture the gist of the Assembly’s work.”

In March last year the Assembly received another donation of multi-media equipment from the Chinese government worth US $125,000, to help it record its own proceedings.

Once settled in its new building at Bel Eau in 2007, the National Assembly looks set to be well equipped to engage a far wider audience than it currently does.

Mapping Seychelles Electronically

A 70, 000 euro project to electronically map out Seychelles’s 25 districts is due to complete in September 2006.

The Swiss expert responsible for the project, Marc Soutter says the use of GIS technology “will be a vital tool for developers, students and tourists alike to use the data into more interactive ways.”

The project is sponsored by the International Association of French-speaking Mayors.

Geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing referenced geographical data.

The director for the GIS Centre, in the Ministry of Land Use and Habitat, Francis Coeur de Lion, explains that “GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps.”

The technology was introduced in Seychelles during the early-1990s and the department of local government is the latest state agency to use it.

It is being used in town planning, creation of a coastal sensitivity atlas, and management of wetlands, agriculture and other infrastructure such as water pipes, electric poles and drainage system.

Its mostly ministries responsible for natural resources and land use which are making use of this system.

Yet the use of GIS is still in the development stage in Seychelles and presently no data are available online, but this should be operational before the end of 2006.

Mr Coeur de Lion, says “the Centre has already acquired and tested appropriate software, designed for Internet mapping and web GIS, which allows users to access geographic information through their web browser. The long term plan is to encourage more public access to such datasets.”

One such initiative is a UNEP sponsored program aimed at getting the islands of the western Indian Ocean and East African countries alike to collect and share data through a regional portal, that will address the major environmental problems and issues related to the degradation of the marine and coastal environment resulting from land-based activities in the region.

Seychelles joins forces

A new Regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in which Seychelles is collaborating has gone on line in the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

The centre is design to provide rapid response to accidents at sea and the growing threat to commercial shipping posed by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

According to a Seychelles Coast Guard official Captain Tom Estico, “the centre will monitor the Indian Ocean coastline from Somalia, Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania and be linked with a similar facility in Cape Town, South Africa.”

The $1.6m Regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre was part funded by the UN's International Maritime Organization
(IMO), under which Seychelles has benefited with over $300, 000 of equipment.

It is equipped with state-of-the-art maritime communications technology and uses satellite technology to collect data from ships and relay information to warships, in nearby waters.

“We are now able to keep a 24-hour watch on ships and other marine vessels in the region and provide necessary assistance upon receiving information about incidents requiring such assistance,” Estico said.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has reported at least 41 attacks on ships off the Somali coast since mid-March of last year, making the Somali waters the world's most dangerous.

Moving education with e-learning.

Seychelles’ department of education received a boost following a ten-day workshop, to deliver on-line courses.

According to Anne Lafortune, the Director general of Technical and Further Education, “this training is an important milestone in the development of distance education in Seychelles.”

A group of 20 IT instructors learned how to develop lesson plans on-line, on-line courses, on-line discussions and how to make it more interactive for users.

The course followed the setting up of a web portal using Linux System in e- learning and the learning Management System (LMS) run by Adult Distance Education and Learning (Aldec).

Fiona Ernesta, Aldec’s Director said “this would also help to cut cost for university training and encourage employees to apply for a course without leaving their current posts.”

The portal will be accessed by students enrolled on distance learning courses in various institutions like the National Institute of Education (NIE), the Seychelles Institute of Management
(SIM) and the Seychelles Polytechnic.

The initiative to set up a Web Portal for distance learning is funded by the Japanese Trust Fund through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Seychelles’ IT network a pacesetter.

The giant software company
Microsoft has chosen the Seychelles’ health information technology network as a model in Africa, for connecting all its health units via an intranet system.

Microsoft is using the health department as a “case study” to show its clients and partners across the globe how its technology can be used.

The system interlinked the department of health’s headquarters and the 16 units (except 3) by computer.

“This new network has improved communication, saved time, telephone call charges, transport and paper,” says the director for health planning and information, Dr Bernard Valentin.

The project started in 2001, with Microsoft joining in 2003 with the donation of software worth R200, 000. The company also offered the services of a consultant who trained the staff and put in the necessary security codes to ensure strict confidentiality.

“Seychelles could benefit even more in terms of telemedicine if the country could link up with the outside world via the main fibre optic cables currently running along eastern Africa,” according to the Microsoft regional representative Marc Israel.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) liaison officer, Dr Cornelia Atsyor said that through the project, Seychelles has become a pacesetter for other WHO countries in the region.

“It shows that this is workable and other countries can follow the example that Seychelles has set.”

Editor’s note: the Seychelles Health Department’s project is the only public sector one featured among another three from the region on the Microsoft website, under case studies. The others are the
Mauritius Commercial Bank, the Mauritius Textiles Company and
Air Madagascar.

Did you say e-banking?

On-line banking is the latest service on offer at Seychelles’ oldest banking institution, Barclays Bank.

Although this service is not at all new in Barclays Group and the banking world, for the moment it will only be available to the bank’s “top customers.”

Barclays Bank (Seychelles) says that through ongoing research they have found the desire to upgrade the services they offer as a modern international bank for the benefit of their customers and the community in which they operates.

“Internet banking will provide a web-based solution that gives our corporate customers more control over their transaction banking, namely the ability to manage their accounts anytime and anywhere in the world,” according to the Managing Director of Barclays (Seychelles) Frank Hoareau.

On-line banking follows the introduction of offshore banking some 12 months ago.

Since the 1st of this month, over 600 overseas clients of Barclays Bank (Seychelles) who have accounts with the bank here are being able to use the Internet to transfer funds in rupees to accounts in other banks based here.

“This will save them the trouble of having to write letters to Seychelles to transfer the money, and they will also be able to view the statements of their accounts from overseas, rather than wait for them to be mailed from Seychelles,” explains Mr Hoareau.

Barclays Bank (Seychelles) says it hopes to be able to offer similar services involving transactions in the foreign exchange starting in October this year in line with whatever Central Bank regulations will be place then.

The service was launched during the recent visit of the Chief executive officer of Barclays Africa and Indian Ocean, Dominic Bruynseels.

Opening up the on-line options.

A new proposal to open up Seychelles market with overseas customers is being reviewed by local business community.

An Indian Internet payment company Ankiti has contacted the Seychelles Investment Bureau (SIB) with a plan to set up an office here.

“Of the handful of Seychellois companies I’ve came across while searching the Internet, none had offered full on-line payment systems,” says Ankiti president Abhay Aggarwal.

During a presentation to the local business community, Mr Aggarwal explains that Ankiti would offer advice on website development incorporating on-line payment mechanisms and advertising.

This new business strategy will allow local companies, such as hotels and destination management companies, to take bookings and receive payment via the Internet.

“An online presence for business is almost a requirement and a sign of professionalism today. Clients and customers often expect to see web and email addresses on business cards and other promotional materials, so that they can read more about the products or services there,” says Ronny Adonis from Reliant Unified Solution (RUS) a computer-consulting firm located in Victoria.

According to the SIB technical director David Bianchi the overall aim is to boost the number of business transactions for local companies and that a review of the relevant legislation may be necessary to allow Ankiti, or any firm offering a similar service, to operate in Seychelles.

It should be noted that the push to open up on-line business to Seychellois firms dates back to the start of a joint e-commerce project, which involved
the Commonwealth, the Ministry of Industry and International Business and the
International Telecommunications Union, as far back as in February 2002.

The need to move even further.

Seychelles is seriously considering plans to connect to a submarine cable that will provide international fiber connectivity to the islands.

The announcement was made by the president of the republic, James Michel during his recent state of the nation address before the National Assembly.

“Government will hold discussions with telecommunications providers and other stakeholders on the strengthening of our telecommunications capacity and the possibility of direct access to the worldwide network of cable systems through a submarine cable link,” says Mr. Michel.

Seychelles is presently totally dependent on satellites for its communications with the rest of the world.

The announcement follows various calls from the business community urging the government to open up dialogue on how they can share the financing cost of joining one of the six submarine cables providing connectivity to Africa.

“Such connection will make trade and communication easier between the international markets and Seychelles with added high capacity, speed and reliability and costumers will observe a great drop in Internet charges,” says VCS’ Executive Chairperson, Mark Hoareau.

To date one fiber has been laid in the Indian Ocean. SAFE (South Africa-Far East) is a connection of over 13,800 km from Cape Town in South Africa to Malaysia, linking Seychelles’ neighbours Mauritius, Reunion and India on the way.

Work is due to start on Eassy (East African Submarine Cable System) in the next few months and it is expected to come online by the end of next year.

“Our economic development depends to a large extent on our telecommunication capabilities. We are well positioned in that sector thanks to investment into GSM networks, Voice over IP, wireless broadband, ADSL, cable broadband and so on. But we need to move even further,” says the president.

Although on the one hand critics agree a new fibre optic cable could revolutionise Internet use in Seychelles by definitely making a “significant difference” to download speeds, some fear it could become a missed opportunity.

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) says a similar cable linking other parts of Africa has not provided the benefits of cheaper, faster Internet access because it is controlled by state-owned monopolies - or their privatised successors - which still enjoy near monopolies.

The APC says there will be a similar lack of competition in other parts of the continent, meaning prices will remain high and so high-speed access like broadband will still be beyond the reach of most people, unless other companies are allowed access to the international fiber connectivity.

Another boost for Creole!

Seychelles is the sixth African country to benefit under a Canadian government’s initiative to build a terminological and linguistic database to promote world languages.

The techno-linguistic-Africa project is sponsored by the International organization of French (OIF) speaking countries.

The project is aimed at translating words and expressions from Seychellois’ Creole into French and English. Once completed the database will be available online through the Canadian’s government terminology and linguistic database, “Termium.”

To implement the project, Seychelles’ Creole Institute has received various ICT equipment and training bursaries for its researchers.

“In support of our new cultural policy launched in 2005, Seychelles needs additional research on its mother tongue, further training for linguists and advance ICT equipment to implement various projects,” says Patrick Nanty the Principal Secretary for Sports and Culture.

Seychelles is the first Creole speaking country to benefit under the project. Other partners on the African continent are Guinea, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal.

“This initiative marks an important step towards promoting Creole on the international stage,” according to the Director of Creole Institute Penda Choppy.

Terminologies from the Constitution, medical and educational fields are the first three areas to be translated under the project.

Promoting Creole in cyberspace.

The official website of the newly created Lasosiasyon Bann Zil Kreol (Association of Creole Speaking Islands) is now on line.

The site was launched this week in Seychelles to mark the International Mother Tongue Day, under the theme “promoting languages through the World Wide Web,” a theme chosen by the United Nation agency, UNESCO.

The website was official launched by the chairperson of the association, Patrick Nanty.

“This site will elevate Creole as a working language in the cyberspace,” according to the Creole Institute Director, Penda Choppy.

The site, which is in Seychellois Creole, is aimed at advertising the association’s works, promote the member states’ and national or international events aimed at advancing Creole.

“We also plan to build a chat room, to allow people from member states to communicate using Creole,” says Mrs Choppy.

The association was launched in October last year during the 20th edition of Festival Kreol in Seychelles. Mauritius, La Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Seychelles and the International Society of Creole speaking Nation based in Europe are the present members.

The aim of the association is to promote cultural, traditional and linguistic exchanges and other activities that will help bring together the disperse race Creole race.

Visit the site @ www.bannzilkreol.sc

Kokonet launches Seychelles’ first VoIP service.

Kokotalk is the new telephone service on offer in Seychelles, driving international phone rate as low as Rs3.

The new service uses Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP technology and will benefit all Kokonetwireless broadband customers. They will be able to make phone calls and send fax worldwide via the Internet. Telephone calls between Kokotalk subscribers, are free of charge.

“Since it is wireless, there’s no risk of interruption in the service, a problem which normally occurs when cable telephone lines are down,” explains Kokonet’s General Manager Peter Durup.

Clients will however need a kokotalk device that is connected via the broadband wireless system to be able to benefit from the service.

For existing wireless broadband customer, the installation fee will be Rs, 500 and Rs1, 500 to those who do not have the service (which include the wireless setup package + the kokotalk device). The service carries a monthly subscription fee of Rs50.

“All equipment will remain the property of Kokonet and is returnable to Kokonet should the service be discontinued,” says Durup.

The company says negotiations with the two local telecoms are underway to allow its Kokotalk customers to make and receive calls locally, without being seen as an international number.

Kokotalk subscribers are allocated a six-digit numbers starting with 47.

“We answer to you...,” says C&W.

Cable & Wireless Seychelles (C&W,) is promising to deliver certain services to its clients within a specified period, if it fails it will offer compensation.

The new Customer Charter is for all C&W fixed residential customers. The company has already introduced a similar Charter for its business fixed-line customers.

“This document shows that the company is pro-active, that it means business, that it is committed to its clients, and that it cares,” says the Divisional Manager for Customer Operations, George D’Offay.

If the number of days set for faults repairs and installation cannot be met, C&W will notify the customer and provide them with a specific date of completion. If the company fails to meet these specific dates, customers will be entitled to claim a one-off payment of Rs25 for delayed fault repair and a one-off payment of Rs50 for the delayed installation.

Under the bold slogan “We answer to you…” the company has set a standard of service that covers in four key areas namely fault repairs, installation, queries and operator services.

Cable & Wireless will aim to:
1. Resolve faults within three working days,
2. Install new service (e.g. new line or extension)
within 15 working days, subject to certain terms and
conditions,
3. Resolve all queries immediately but if further
investigation need to be carried out, then within
eight working days, and
4. Answer all operator services calls within 40 seconds
on average, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“The Charter reflects C&W’s corporate values, effort and commitment in providing customers not only with the highest possible standard of service, but also granting them their rights,” explains Brigitte Ferrari, the manager of Customer Services.

Critics say at a time when service delivery in government and sometimes in the private sector has become an issue of concern, such committed standards are a move in the right direction to ensure fast and efficient service locally.

Seychelles is 48th

Seychelles is ranked 48th out of 149 countries on the “Composite ICT Development Index.”

The result is published in a report entitled “From the Digital Divide to Digital Opportunities,” which measure the progress of ICT development between and within economies.

The report is issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The report says Seychelles’ level of ICT uptake has an index value of 141.7 and is above the average value of 116.4. This figure places the country ahead of all African nations included in the survey.

Over the period 1995 to 2003, the use of ICT grew significantly with the info-use index increasing from 37.7 to 126.6.

The islands’ index value increased from 3.5 in 1995 to 84.3 in 2003, according to the publication.
“Seychelles’ level of info use can be attributed to the liberalisation of the sector and changes that have taken place in the regulatory framework,” says the department of Information of Technology and Communication (DITC).

The DITC added, “Government policies have also encouraged more customers to increase their ICT usage and investment in the ICT sector through the reduction of tariffs.”

Over the last eight years, the number of telecommunication providers locally has grown fivefold. Amongst them they have a fixed telephone network connecting over 65% of households and a cable network reaching most parts of the main island. More than 67% of the population has a mobile phone (from 2,549 mobile subscribers in 1997 to 54,368 to date), and the mobile services are accessible to over 98% of the population.

However, critics say the potentials of ICTs to develop more democratic, transparent and participative processes of governance from the local to national level, for example in private radio stations, are yet to be translated here.

Editor’s note:

The Info-use refers to the uptake and usage of ICT and their intensity of use by businesses, organizations and households.

The Info-density refers to the stock of ICT capital and ICT labour and skills including ICT infrastructure/network, machinery, equipment all of which are indicative of a country’s productive capacity.

ICT a threat to postal services power.

The number of letters passing through Seychelles’s postal system is on the decline, according to the postal services division.

The decline is attributed to the access and use of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by Seychellois.

Figures released by the postal services division shows incoming mail had dropped by 20 percent from 1,211,520 in 2000 to 97,820 in 2004.

“The change is a result of Seychellois’ access to the Internet and mobile telephones, as well as ordinary telephones and fax machines,” says Flavien Morin, the Director General for Postal Services Division.

The largest decline was recorded in the number of international couriers, by more than 492,000. The number of letters dispatched to international destinations in 2000 was 1,951,399 compared to 1,459,325 in 2004.

In the year 2000, a total of 2,131,370 letters were delivered locally, but by 2004, the number had dropped by more than 75,000 letters to 2,055,754.

“Many people now communicate by e-mail, telephone, short message system (SMS) or fax,” added Morin. He noted that availability pattern of these facilities in Seychelles compares well with what is seen in developed countries.

There are a total of 54,368 mobile telephone subscribers in Seychelles.

Editor's Note: It should be noted that the Universal Postal Union, a United Nations specialized agency based in Berne, Switzerland, which unite 190 members worldwide is closely involved in the debate on the new Information Society. The union is firmly convinced that combining the post’s physical, electronic and financial networks creates ideal conditions for E-business development and for narrowing the digital divide.

C&W coughs up to buy local ISP

Cable & Wireless Seychelles (C&W) has confirmed it has bought ATLAS, the country’s largest ISP, for a sum of Rs19m.

Seychelles is the last amongst 33 countries in which C&W has also acquired an ISP license beside its traditional telecom trade.

C&W CEO Usman Saadat says the convergence of telecommunications technology is the principal factor in its bid to make its mark as a major player in the Internet business market.

He describes the merger as historic:

“The purchase of ATLAS has combined the strength of the two leading players in their respective fields in Seychelles. The merger will allow us to provide a greater range of services to our customer and deliver IP and other high-speed Internet services to a greater range of customer that has been provided to date,” says Saadat.

But in a more business sense the merger is costing C&W less in the long term since ATLAS is a well established ISP which not so long ago has invested heavily in a brand new Internet broadband project dubbed “SkyWay.”

The take over means C&W is not only benefiting in terms of infrastructure but also with specialised skills, which it wouldn't otherwise have by starting from scratch.

“The purchase is helped by the fact that we are buying an existing asset base and a working service with skills staff. That will give tremendous advantage in terms of being able to further enhance those services and products going forward,” says Saadat.

The deal means C&W is now the country’s leading telecom, with a market share of over 95% fixed line, 65% mobile and 60% Internet customers.

The company recently announced a Rs35m upgrade to its mobile network.

With the ATLAS takeover, the company’s deputy CEO Cyril Bonnelame says this is further proof of C&W’s commitment to Seychelles.

“The market is becoming increasingly competitive and we welcome that change. We will continue to transform ourselves to provide and compete in the best possible way. Our aim in fact is to delight our customers,” reassures Bonnelame.

An assurance the company’s clients hope to see translated in further reduction in telecommunications charges.

For the moment the two companies are operating as separate entities, but C&W says there will be changes during the course of the year.

Seychelles plans new e-Services.

Plans to offer various government services online are underway according to the department of Information Technology and Communication (DITC).

When finally in place, the Seychellois public will be able to apply for and use various services or enroll on different programmes from remote locations without having to go physically to different offices.

According to the minister reponsible for ITC, Joseph Belmont, the government’s decision to offer e-Services is because “IT is playing an increasingly important role in the conduct of different businesses and operations.”

He said his department is at the moment working with other government’s departments, assisting them with their computerisation process.

e-Services is a term usually referring to the provision of services via the Internet. It include e-Commerce although they may also include non-commercial services, such as e-Government services.

“A person should eventually be able, for example, to file his Pension Fund returns online from his own premises without having to get a form, fill it up then deliver or post it,” explains the principal secretary for ITC Benjamin Choppy.

It is to be noted that many private companies, the likes of Cable & Wireless Hunt Deltel and Coco D’or Hotel are already offering various online services, such as e-billing, cargo tracking and online reservation.

However, critics say consumers will accepted the e-services less readily than the government is expecting. Several reasons might account for the slow uptake, including:

· Concerns about security. Many people will refrain
from giving personal details, e.g. national identity number
over the Internet due to concerns about theft and fraud.
· Lack of instant gratification with most transactions.
Much of a consumer's reward of doing a transaction lies
in the instant gratification of getting a result. This
reward does not exist when a reply does not arrive
instantly.
· The problem of access to the Internet. Low
penetration rates of Internet access in some sectors greatly
reduces the potential for e-services, particularly for poor
households.
· The social aspect of services. Some people enjoy
meeting and talking to other people: this social reward side
does not exist to the same extent in online service.

Despite such initial reactions, critics say this direct access will simplify the process taxpayers engage in to obtain government services. e-Services will help create experiences with government agencies that are more personal. These interactions are an opportunity to provide more than just static information delivery. They will lead to a more responsive organization and favorable perception of the agency and service provided.