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.