Winning @ African ICT achievers awards.

Information and Communication Technologies enthusiasts and pioneers from across the African continent were rewarded for their contributions to the industry at the 9th African ICT achievers awards in Johannesburg, South Africa last weekend.

The event organizers, ForgeAhead in partnership with the Department of Communications, said the winners were nominated and rewarded for their commitment to digital inclusion and African unity and prosperity through the use of technology.

“The competition was really tough this year because of the myriad of innovative and substantial entries we received from across the entire continent,” said a ForgeAhead press communiqué.

The winners include nine individual awards and seven organisational awards. Amongst the successors were HighWay Africa News Agency correspondent from Seychelles, Gervais Henrie who was awarded Excellence in ICT Journalism in Africa and the Mauritian Minister Etienne Sinatambou was the winner of the overall individual award and also the Top Minister in Africa with an ICT Portfolio.

The Rwandan President Paul Kagame, was presented with a the Lifetime Achievers Award for his dedication to the proliferation of the ICT industry in South Africa and across the continent as well as the promotion of the use of technology within governments for better service delivery to citizens and for her support of making use of African experts.

Feedback from the judges was that “These individuals and organisations are doing such great work to embrace ICTs and make this a truly ‘African Century’,” said ForgeAhead.

Seychelles launched national ICT policy

Seychelles is the latest COMESA member country to launch its national ICT policy this week. The development came just over a year after the first meeting of the local consultative committee charged with providing policy direction to the government on ICT growth in the country.

The document sets national ICT policy objectives in five key areas, notably in ICT Infrastructure, legal and regulatory framework, human resources development, as well as industry and government.

“Through this policy document, the government recognizes that accessible, affordable, high quality and well-regulated ICT facilities and services with and within Seychelles is critical to the realisation of its vision of a modern, ICT enabled and knowledge-based information society,” says the minister responsible for ICT, Jacquelin Dugasse.

The policy drew together the experiences of countries such as Singapore, Malta, Kenya, Mauritius, Botswana and others which have over the last few years undertaken a similar exercise.

In reply to criticism raised about the transparency of the exercise, minister Dugasse said the policy was approved by the government on September 8th this year, only after extensive consultations and discussions involving a wide range of participants from the public sector as well as civil society was made.

“This policy is truly a public–private partnership at the highest level. In ensuring wider participation in the development of the policy, its draft was also distributed to other stakeholders such as the Liaison Unit for Non-Governmental Organisations (LUNGOS), the Seychelles Lawyers Association and others.”

The policy among other things takes into account the objectives of the Seychelles Government with regard to Strategy 2017 and the 10 targets of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).

“This will be achieved with the commitment to monitor the implementation of the policy, through the use of appropriate indicators and review when necessary,” says the principal Secreaty for ICT Benjamin Choppy.

The policy came to being with the financial and technical support of the Commonwealth, COMESA and the India Ocean Commission. Meanwhile, the consultative committee has been mandated with the formulation of a comprehensive national ICT strategic plan for 2007.

MCB warns clients against scam

The Mauritius Commercial Bank (Seychelles) has issued a security alert to all its customers about an Internet scam aimed at stealing its clients’ identity.

In an advertisement in the national daily, Seychelles Nation, MCB says, email messages alleging to come from the bank are inviting Internet Banking (IB) customers to log in their account via a link.

This in effect could lead to clients’ accounts being re-activated remotely.

The bank says the messages are part of a scam known as “phishing” aimed at stealing the IB customers’ user ID and pass word,

MCB has assured its clients that it provides adequate security measures, such as cryptographic standards to protect their financial information and transactions as they are being transmitted over the Internet.

Meanwhile, the bank is taking this situation very seriously. It has published on its website a list of precautionary measures all clients must take to further enhance security and protect themselves from unauthorised access to their personal financial information.

The measures include; protection of password, logging out correctly, clearing history and setting daily transfer limit.

Seychelles Weekly “named and shamed” Intelvision

The Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly newspaper claimed many people have called their office to complain about the services offered by Intelvision.

The paper in its 28th September publication wrote, “the criticisms were more pronounced in respect of its Internet services, which are more offline than online, although other areas of its services were also singled out for criticism.”

Intelvision, which commenced operation in October 2004, is one of the three local ISPs alongside Atlas and Kokonet, but also provides telephone and cable TV services.

Like its competitors, Intelvision entirely relies on satellite technology for connectivity. In the past all ISPs have experienced slow connectivity because of alleged bandwidth problems.

However, Seychelles Weekly pointed out that “Intelvision has substantially less subscribers to its Internet services and should not by any stretch of the imagination, be experiencing such problems.”

The paper said the complaints are not only limited to the Internet services, but also about the customer as well, which they say “is more or less non existent”

“The problems are so bad,” wrote the Seychelles Weekly “that even tourists who visited our islands and have experienced their services first hand, have surprisingly gone out of their way to post their complaints on the Internet.”

The company which this week is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with massive discount offers, states on its website that:

we are devoted to listening to and understanding the individual needs of our Customers. We will strive to be your provider of choice by fostering an environment of teamwork, innovation, quality and efficiency to achieve a common goal of TOTAL Customer Satisfaction.

So far there’s been no public reaction from Intelvision regarding the Seychelles Weekly’s article.

Editor’s Note: I noted that all the customers’ quotes from the Seychelles Weekly’s article are originally from the Seychelles Digital blog, but no mention are made of it by the paper.

Seychelles expresses disappointment

The Seychelles Ambassador to the UN, Ronny Jumeau said he's disappointed that small island states and low-lying countries are not urgently getting technologies they need to adapt to the rising sea levels in some areas.

Ambassador Jumeau was speaking at a high level event convened by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, entitled 'The future in our hands: addressing the leadership challenge of climate change.'

"I must express my disappointment that most technology talked about today is aimed at helping the polluters mitigate their emissions, laudable as that may be, with hardly anything being said about technology to help us small island states and low-lying countries adapt to climate change," stated Jumeau.

The UN permanent representative, avowed that he wasn't "rattling another begging bowl," explaining that climate change-related technologies, such as equipments for observation, monitoring, research and setting standards "come at a price which we certainly cannot bear alone."

With time fast ticking, said that he hoped donor countries, organisations and private sector entities with available resources will assist vulnerable states to help themselves.

It is in this contest, that the Presidents of Seychelles, James Michel and Palau, Tommy Esang Remengesau have launched the Sea Level Rise Foundation.

"Together we are mobilising leadership, increasing resources and sharing skills, knowledge, technologies and innovations in a cost-effective and sustainable way that will catalyse action for conservation and sustainable livelihoods on islands and in low-lying areas in the face of climate change," explained Jumeau.

The objective of the foundation is to complement the UN's efforts by prompting global attention and action, including the innovation and transfer of the types of technologies that small island states and low-lying countries need, to address the devastating impact of climate change on their peoples and ecosystems and to help them adapt to new rising sea levels.

Editor’s Note: The projected sea-level rise is due to a revised estimate of the ice melt from glaciers. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Third Assessment Report, published in 2001, projected that the global average sea level would rise by between 9 and 88cm between 1990 and 2100.

11 years of Internet

“Better stay on the alert or you’ll risk finding yourself embarrassedly on the net!” is now a common catch phrase amongst the population of the tiny Seychelles archipelago.

This month as the country marks the 11th anniversary since it got connected to the world’s largest network, many argue the above statement goes to show how central this technology is in the islanders’ lives whilst others pointed out their mistrust for it.

A series of interviews the writer conducted as part of a special assignment for the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, show the public’s attitude to the Internet varies from one extreme to another.

Whilst 12-year-old Shannen Henrie calls it “cool,” because it can spares her from boredom, the technologically minded radio presenter Nathalie Rose describes the web as “information at your finger tips.” But for Mrs. Johnette Mambé a pensioner who lives at Cascade and who has never used a mobile phone or type on a computer, let alone know the meaning of the acronym ICT, the web is a total mystery. She simply shouts back “what?” to my question of what she likes about the web?

In a country where the vast majority of the population is employed by the government, this is where their primary Internet source is.

Latest figures published by the National Statistics Bureau show that home Internet accounts are taking much longer to catch on. From the 2003 figures, it has increased by only 1, 061 to a total 3, 872.

What is the future direction is now a $30 million question. Whilst the government wants every home with an Internet connection by 2015, the private sector is more worried about how the struggling economy will raise the $30 million needed to transfer the islands’ connectivity from satellite to submarine fibre optic cable?

“Cost is irrelevant, but speed not!,” cautioned VCS Chief Executive Mark Hoaureau. With the increasing number of users among the younger generation especially with the recent introduction of Internet in all secondary schools, one way or another, the fund will have to be raised.

"Seychelles geographical isolation means that it can benefit very highly from the Internet which will facilitate very cost effective communications and accessibility to the international market," expalined Tessa Siu from the Social Development Department.

The CBA assignment concluded that the business community finds it economical in terms of cutting down on some operational costs, the growing tourism industry sees it as a direct access to once inaccessible markets and traders likewise approve of its marketing potential.

But not everyone is buying all these pros. Quoting from Thomas Knowles' song entitled "Konsole" which says, “each time I tried to write, the tears of sadness damped my note pads,” Lina Laurence from the local radio station says the web lacks intimacy. “For me - It can never create this song’s imagery”.

Editor’s Note: The population concerns (from the lead) stamped from the scandal that rocked the islands following the vast circulation of nude photographs of local girls via email.

Seychelles @ HA 2007

The curtain has just fallen upon the 11th Highway Africa conference, at Rhodes University in South Africa. The occasion is the world’s largest gathering of African journalists.

Once again over 500 delegates from some 40 countries, including Seychelles converged on the temperamental municipality of Grahamstown, this time to engage on the chosen theme “Quality and professionalism in journalism and the media: the case for new media.”

The conference director, Chris Kabwato says the aim this year was to “brings us home to the core values of our profession and to engage on the values and practices of journalism.”

2007 is an important year for the Dark Continent as it marks the 50th anniversary of its first independent state, Ghana. The Highway Africa conference therefore, reminded the continent that her destiny is in her own hand and there is much work yet to be done.



“The conference’s deliberations are part of the challenge of re-structuring a future Africa of hope and promise that is characterized by economics and social development and a culture of humane rights,” says Dr Saleem Badat.

The Rhodes University Vice Chancellor believes this annual event is an opportune moment for the media to reassess its mandate besides its role to inform, educate and entertain. Amongst other things, he believes the institution should self-assess its quality and standards, by maintaining its “intellectual independence and dispassionate objectivity and contributes to the formation of an informed and critical citizenry.”

“African media and journalists have especial responsibilities and a profound role to play in holding a mirror to us about the real conditions of our societies and in fostering debate on the trajectories of democracy, human rights and development in our societies and on our continent,” he added.

The rendezvous for the 12th Highway Africa conference has been set for September 2008, whilst it is hope that the continent’s journalists continue to interrogate the issues of quality and professionalism in journalism in the media in the specific conditions and context of Africa.

Seychelles ICT in figures

Figures published by the National Statistic Bureau (NSB) shows an explosion in the number of cellular mobile telephone subscribers in Seychelles.

Up to December 2006, the total number combining Airtel and Cable & Wireless amounts to 72,019.

This means in three years the number of mobiles in Seychelles has grown by 22, 790 – the number of landlines at around 848, mostly in government offices.

The NSB figures shows a total of 22, 039 telephone exchange lines in 2006 compared to 21, 191 in 2003.

No details were available on the market share of each company.

But observers believe Airtel have the lion share of the GSM network, whilst C&W is the dominant force in fixed line services.

The boom in the number of handsets reflects the trend across the African continent, where mobile phone is having a huge impact.

However, the popularity of home Internet accounts is taking much longer to catch on. From the 2003 figures, it has increased by only 1, 061 to a total 3, 872.

“Home Internet access will remain an unpopular choice, unless we address the two stumbling blocks: slow PC penetration and high cost connecting fee. As a result most people are choosing to access the Internet at work or in cyber cafés,” remarks a government ICT technician.

The Internet’s dilly-dally is further highlighted by the fact that cable TV which arrived in Seychelles much later, is more of an attraction in the homes. To date there are 4, 064 connections, whilst satellite dishes remains a predominately hotel based technology with only 122 registered dishes.

It should be noted that in its publication, the NSB put the country’s population at 85, 032.

Government to outsource ICT jobs

The Seychelles’ public sector ICT workforce will shrink considerably as a result of the current restructuring - being undertaken by the government.

In a recent interview the minister responsible for Information and Communication Technology, Jacquelin Dugasse said his ministry intends to outsource most projects to the private sector.

“This is an opportune moment for our young professionals to apply their trade in the private sector or even set up their own businesses,” says Dugasse.

Amongst the ICT specialists who could lose their current employment with the government are several developers, designers, programmers, analysts, administrators and technicians.

A government spokesperson says in the last three weeks 57 employees from various professions, including ICT have been made redundant.

Critics have questioned the government’s motives since ICT has been identified as the backbone for the country’s ambitious plan for the next ten years called Strategy 2017.

“This is ironic. Seychelles is already heavily dependent on foreign expertise in the ICT fields, yet we are now witnessing qualified local talents being made redundant,” commented a chamber of commerce official.

The government has defended its decision to lay off workers, claiming it will enforce its role as facilitator and regulator rather than the major service provider.

“We intend to refrain from employing people doing specialist jobs that the private sector can do more effectively, whilst contributing positively to Seychelles’ prosperity,” says vice president Joseph Belmont.

The main opposition party has expressed dismay at the reasons given for the redundancy and has accused the government of insensitive handling of the situation.

Cost is irrelevant. But speed not!

A leading Seychellois ICT pioneer is offering options to the government on how best to finance the country’s quest to get connected to a regional submarine fibre optic cable project.

Marc Hoareau the man credited with connecting Seychelles to the World Wide Web, says the private sector which is the sole providers of ICT services in Seychelles should be the principal backers of this national ambition.

“First and foremost, it’s right, because at the end of the day it’s not the government that’s providing telecom services to Seychelles. It’s simple. It’s Cable & Wireless. It’s Intelvision. It’s Airtel and even Kokonet,” says Hoareau.

In a recent interview, the minister responsible for ICT Jacquelin Dugasse said the project will cost between $US35 and 40 million.

In an exclusive interview with Seychelles Digital radio programme, Mr Hoareau points out Seychellois companies are currently paying satellite companies around $US25, 000 monthly for bandwidth.

“So why should I give IntelSat $US300, 000 a year if I was part of this project,” he states.

Mr Hoareau also offered the introduction of an ICT tax as a mean to repay a loan that Seychelles can borrow to invest in the venture.

“It‘s very simple. The people of Seychelles would understand. This is a tax and the benefits are huge. It’s not just for businesses in Seychelles, but for our future.”

Thirdly Mr Hoareau who’s the CEO of the leading ITC training centre VCS has challenged prominent financial institutions to support the country’s next development stage.

“What’s the point of having a new port, if we’re not going to have the telecommunication part to bolster fishing in the region? Tourism, you have new hotels being built. There’s online reservation into Seychelles. We have to be connected. We cannot continue to use satellite.”

The government recently revealed an ambitious plan for the next ten years dubbed Strategy 2017 in which ICT has been identify as the backbone of any future development.

“I think any government today that is smart enough to look at the future of their own country must realize that without Internet, without telecommunication, without the speed for us to process information, we’re going to be left way behind. So to me it’s something that needs to be done and as far as I’m concern, the cost is irrelevant,” concluded Mr. Hoaureau.

Digitalizing COMESA’s customs procedures

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) through the financial backing of the European Commission has announced plan to digitalize the economic block’s customs clearance procedures.

Under the project member countries will receive donation of computers, equipped with a computerized customs management system, which will eventually introduce a paperless system of customs processing.

At its last summit in Nairobi earlier this year, COMESA observed that the custom service in many of its member countries is still stuck in the pre-independence era, remaining a paper transaction from beginning to end as far as clearance of goods are concerned.

Under the new plan, members will use the Automated System for Customs Data and Management (ASYCUDA) software, developed by the United Nations conference on Trade and Development in 1981.

The software covers most foreign trade procedures and handles manifests and customs declarations, accounting procedures, transit and suspense procedures. ASYCUDA also generates trade data that can be used for statistical economic analysis.

A COMESA spokesperson says the project is aimed at increasing trade facilitation, improved efficiency and effectiveness in customs procedures, provision of timely and accurate trade data and the use of international standards.

The system is also expected to enable member countries to streamline customs procedures and adopt cohesive strategies that would foster the cargo processing and promote regional trade.

COMESA says it will donate computers to the value of US$100,000 to US$400,000. The Democratic Republic of Congo, the Comoros, Eritrea, Swaziland and Seychelles are the five newest countries that will benefit from the donation.

The ASYCUDA system is already in operation in nine other COMESA countries.

SBC in new regional partnership

The Indian Ocean public television stations have launched an online content management system to boost regional media coverage.

SERTOI (Report Exchange System for Televisions in the Indian Ocean) developed by GlobeCast, functions similarly to an electronic mailbox allowing participating stations to make audiovisual files available via the Internet in a non-proprietary form.

The project was put on trial earlier this month during a workshop in Mauritius where editors from the six regional public television stations were meeting to finalise the project.

All newsrooms will have an identical computer equiped with the appopriate software. The workstation is design to the surmont the instability of Internet connection in the region.

The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Chief Editor Antoine Onezime says SERTOI is part of a project to set up a network to promote the exchanging of reports in the Indian Ocean

“We will now be able to exchange up to 3,000 reports annually, that will not only enrich the region’s televised newscasts, but also open up a new window of information on the world’s third largest ocean,” says Onezime.

The stations will shortly initiate a monthly regional magazine to consolidate the exchange process, to promote the region, its history, culture and inhabitants.

Keeping it safe for children

Starting from next month, children giving evidence in Seychelles' courts will do so via a video link to reduce the trauma they normally go through while testifying in person in the courts of law.

The video link project is the brainchild of the National Council for Children (NCC), to allow children more effective testimony against their abusers and offenders.

Up to now, the NCC has been strongly against children giving evidence in the same courtroom as their abusers.

The council's National Director, Ruby Padiwalla says, “too many cases of child abuse have been ineffectual in the past, due to the child’s inability to cope with the presence of their offenders in the same room where they are about to testify.”

A spokesperson for Space ‘95, the company responsible for the set up says, the equipment allowing for the link-up will be handled by the presiding judge of the day and are very user-friendly.

“The cameras cover four locations at a time and should allow the judge the advantage of projecting the angle of the courtroom he deems appropriate for the child testifying to see,” explained Andy Noel of Space '95.

NCC's request to relocate the courtroom where children normally give their evidence to their headquarters has been rejected.

“Although they financed all the equipment for the project, the judiciary strongly feels, such location should be independent of the child welfare organisation,” argued Melchior Vidot, who is the Registrar.

The video link set-up system has been endorsed by the Seychelles' judicial and the social development departments.

New age of environmental protection

The decision by Seychelles' largest telecommunications company to introduce e-top up technology is being hailed as a positive step towards environmental protection.

The Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless Seychelles, Charles Hammond says: "I am sure the service will have a positive impact in Seychelles. Just recently, the President in his National Day address voiced for a cleaner Seychelles, and we are proud to bring this first electronic, environmentally friendly top up service to the people of Seychelles!"

A company's spokesperson says that over a million plastic scratch cards get thrown away after use annually and litter the country.

The service, introduced under the name of 'eTopUp', allows customers to top up their mobile prepaid service electronically, giving them more flexibility in managing their prepaid accounts.

"Customers now can top up with as little as SR10 up to a maximum of SR1000 per transaction, such flexibility has contributed hugely to the success of 'eTopUp' in other Cable & Wireless businesses globally," according to the company's head of Mobile Phone Unit Oliver Fock-Tave.

Although Cable Prepaid customers now have the choice of topping their accounts using 'eTopUp' or scratch card vouchers, the company says it intends to move completely away from vouchers and offer only 'eTopUp' in the future.

"This has been the trend around the world as similar electronic top up systems have proved to be far more beneficial to all concerned," concluded Fock-Tave.

A Promise Kept?

The first consignment of subsidized laptops promised to Seychellois teachers earlier this year was delivered this week.

The 1500 Inspiron 1501 and 6400 Dell laptop computers are selling at only 25% of the local market price in order to popularise the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education.

The scheme initiated by President James Michel, during the recent parliamentary election campaign provoked controversies, with critics questioning its tender procedures, the implication of some high government officials behind the sale and the availability of foreign exchange to finance the purchase.

The minister of Education Bernard Shamlaye defended the scheme saying the teachers' positive response is proof of its popularity. He added that he was happy with the teachers' response to make themselves available for an opportunity.

“In making it possible and affordable for teachers to acquire personal computers, the government is acknowledging the important work that teachers do,” says the minister.

The Dell's Regional Manager for Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, Philippe Cahez, who was in the country to attend the handing over ceremony, described his company's partnership with Seychelles as the “beginning of a story which will continue in the months to come.”

e-government project sees light of day.

Government services in Seychelles are undergoing a major transformation as various departments are making information and resources available online to the public.

Seychelles e-government goal is to make information and communication technologies (ICT) integral to the delivery of government information, services and processes.

The implementations have encountered delays since Vice President Joseph Belmont first announced it in January 2006.

He explained that the most important anticipated benefits of the project will include improved efficiency, convenience, and better accessibility of public services. However, the opposition has raised concerns about the project namely access, education standards and ICT literacy.

"Governments may need to consider how the impact of age, language skills or the public’s interest will guarantee the project’s success," according to the administrator of a local ISP.

To date the departments of education, employment and social affairs, are using information technologies to exchange authoritative government information and services with the public, businesses, and other branches of government.

"e-Government should be applied by all government departments in order to improve internal efficiency, the delivery of public services, or processes of democratic governance," say Evans Delcy a government's department System Support Manager.

Other online materials are also available "in confidence," meaning to view their content you need to be an employee of a government department, in which case a login and password would be required before you can access the confidential material.

Such resources are available within the departments of health, land use and habitat and immigration services.

In a recently published document entitled "Seychelles Strategy 2017" the government stated that by then, all government agencies and their partners will use technology to provide user-centred information to achieve joint outcomes.

The people's transactions with the government are also expecting transformation, with increasing and innovative use of network technologies that provide more opportunities.

Laptops’ scheme controversy.

In his weekly column in the Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly newspaper, Christopher Gill has highlighted a number of controversies surrounding the government’s promise to start selling laptops at a discounted price to state school employees.

The politician turned columnist first point of contention is the vendor’s contract. He argued that the decision as to which company would import the laptops has been made without any public bidding procedures for tender of contract.

“This is not the first time Space95 is involved in supplying government without bidding or tender procedures being followed,” Gill wrote.

He also questioned a “very high” Government official’s implication in the affair. Gill claimed that the official in question represents a company called Charms Pty., which holds 890 shares of Space95.

“The fact that the arrangements were made behind closed doors, only shows who comes first in the deal; the teachers or the business interests?” he argued.

Finally with the backlog on foreign exchange and pipeline exceeding $75 million, Gill wrote “it would be interesting to know where Space95 would get the foreign exchange for the purchase.”

Under the scheme announced recently by President James Michel, the government will subsidised the prices of the Dell Inspiron 1501 and Inspiron 6400 laptop computers, with teachers paying only 25% of the items’ cost on the local market.

The opposition parties branded the initiative as a “desperate election ploy” to lure young voters saying the government should instead be doing what is really necessary, connecting the islands to the underwater fiber optic cable.

Editor’s note: Christopher Gill was the first directly elected opposition member of the legislature after the return of multiparty democracy in 1993. Following some internal tensions he was dismissed from the Democratic Party in 1995. He has since reconciled with his uncle, Seychelles first president, Sir James Mancham and is now back into the DP camp.

Laptop computers at subsidised prices.

The Seychelles government has announced plan to sell laptop computers at a subsidised price in a special scheme, to popularise information and communication technology (ICT) in education.

President James Michel made the announcement recently.

“Given the mobile nature of a teacher’s work, moving between classes, sometimes even schools, and also working at home, a laptop is the hardware of choice,” said Mr Michel.

The laptops are on offer for Seychellois teachers in State schools only.

Those wishing to participate in the scheme can choose between two
Dell laptop models, namely the Inspiron 1501 and the Inspiron 6400. Both is equipped with the latest Microsoft Vista Operating System as well as MS Office Professional Plus.

The prices will be R2, 500 and R3, 500, respectively. These prices are only 25% of the market value, according to the ministry of education.

Distribution of the computers will be made by the ministry of education, which says money collected from the sale will build up a fund for the continuity of the scheme.

With campaigning for the next National Assembly in full force, the opposition parties have branded the initiative as a mean to lure voters towards of the ruling SPPF party.

Stay out of it!

The Seychelles National Party (SNP) has called on Cable & Wireless to maintain its traditional independence of local party politics, during the current election campaign period.

The SNP’s caution came following the publication of a middle section insert bought by the company in the ruling party’s newspaper, The People to advertise its mobile services.

The party’s Secretary General, Roger Mancienne said it is not fair to the company’s staff to be seen so closely associated with a particular political party.

An open letter addressed to Cable & Wireless’ CEO Charles Hammond, published in the latest Regar newspaper, Mr Mancienne, nonetheless wrote “we respect the decision of the company to advertise in whichever newspaper and in whatever manner it wishes.”

However, he said “we have decided to call this matter to your attention because only two weeks ago, all Cable & Wireless’ employees were, for the first time since Seychelles returned to a multi-party political system, officially cautioned not to publicly display their political affiliation during the election campaign period.”

So far there has been no public statement about the issue from Cable & Wireless.

Airtel first for 3G in Seychelles.

Airtel Telecom Seychelles has become the country’s first telecom to provide the third generation technology for mobile services or “3G.”

Airtel’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Lalita Mayadas said she was confident 3G would bring about “lots of valued added services.”

“We’ll be actually investing on applications to maximize the potential of this network,” said Mayadas.

Seychelles is now amongst the first African countries, together with South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania with 3G technologies.

Observers say the technology, which allows subscribers Internet access at broadband speeds, could be the answer to the islands’ increasing demands for high-speed Internet.

The 3G launch comes as Airtel was facing tough competition from its rivalry Cable and Wireless, which recently introduced 2.5G (GPRS, Edge) network.

3G, or the killer application as some advertisers proudly call it, supports all the existing GSM functionality and brings additional functionalities such as video calling and mobile TV.

Critics said the success of the system’s implementation would depend on the number of subscribers with third generation phone.

“The price of 3G phones locally is certainly on of the obstacles keeping this innovative service from the reach of most ordinary Seychellois,” commented one phone seller in Victoria.

Are we there yet?

In his state of the nation address delivered this week, the Seychelles head of state, James Michel says Seychelles biggest challenge is connection to a submarine fibre optic cable.

His remark is the first admission from the Seychelles authority that the implementation of this project is still on the drawing board.

In his 2006 speech President Michel promised that his government would approach the private sector to form a partnership to provide the islands direct access to the Internet through a submarine cable link.

Twelve months on, the project is still a “discussion topic” on the government’s agenda.

“This is a very big project which will require a partnership between government and the private sector. A specific study on the project will start soon,” offered Mr Michel.

Eight years on after the arrival of the WWW on it shores, Seychelles remains totally dependent on satellites technology for its communications with the outside world.

Critics say President Michel’s admission should fuel calls from the business community urging the government to put its words into action.

“Such connection will provide faster Internet and telecommunication access and will allow the development of new businesses in that field,” says VCS’ Executive Chairman, Mark Hoareau.

To date one submarine cable 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.

Fledgling artists should find outlets online.

“All artists should leave no stone unturned. Try everything until something works. Then try some more things.”

This is the key objective of the incoming chairperson of the Seychelles Musicians Association (Lanmizik San Frontyer) to encourage more local artists to think about promoting themselves and their work on the Internet.

“A presentation on the Internet requires little commitment in terms of time and money. So why not include it in the career toolkit?” argues Basil Bouchereau.

Whilst many present day artists are labouring to promote their names and songs, the WWW is an option to market their hatchling careers directly to music fans all over the world.

“Today without having to export their CDs, Seychellois artists can reach people from all corners of the world. This is all because the Internet has became so huge,” says Bouchereau.

Artists can deliver music files, information about their upcoming events, video clips and more to potential fans all over the Internet through blogs, electronic bulletin boards, and personal Web sites.

Seychellois artists like many of their counterparts on the African continent are without the backing of major label, so they can turn to the Internet to promote themselves and their music.

“The mainstream media is getting tighter and tighter on its control of what people hear. So it’s time for artists to start using the Web as an outlet, because many music fans the world over are turning to it as a different place to find all sorts of things, including music,” says Darren Bonnelame, the producer of Seychelles’ sole TV music programme, Melodies des Iles.

Barbara Jenson, an internationally known painter says in today’s artistic industry a presence on the WWW is an “absolutely essential” part of launching a successful career.

Working from her own home on La Digue island together with her husband Roy, Barbara who is originally from Wales keeps a hands-on approach to controlling her Web sites and career.

“Not only it grants you autonomy, but also it facilitates promotion and distribution,” she added.

However, not everyone is buying the argument.

“Since anybody can have a Web site, a lot of people may not take you seriously, or you may start relying too heavily on the technology for exposure, forgetting that there's also a street presence and there are people who aren't on the Web,” argue upcoming songwriter, Joel Servina.

But Boucheareau is adamant. He believes that by including a Web address in their contact, the artists are showing that they are ready for the 21st century and also care enough about their customers to take advantage of new technologies for their benefit.

“The Internet is such a great tool,” said Boucheareau, “because pretty much anybody can pull up a website and look at it and listen to it.”

2006 in Review: the top ICT stories of the year (Part One).

January: Cable & Wireless became the new owner of Atlas.

After weeks of speculations Seychelles’ oldest telecommunication company, CWS announced it has reached agreement to purchase the whole of the share capital of Atlas (Seychelles) Limited, the country’s first Internet Service Provider.

The deal worth SR19 million furthered CWS’ ability in offering customers a full range of services including wireless broadband, dial-up access and leased lines. CWS is now not just Seychelles’ leading telecommunications company but also the foremost provider of Internet services in Seychelles.

February: Kokonet launched telephone service over the Internet.

Internet Provider Kokonet introduced its Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, Kokotalk, to benefit all its wireless broadband customers.

The service permits phone calls via the Internet through standard analogue phones as well as sending fax to any international destination at the rate of R3 per call. Subscribers are also be able to make calls via a soft phone, a programme that they can set up on their PC to speak to other online users.

Subscribers were allocated six-digit numbers beginning with the number 47.

March: Price war.

CWS turned the pressure on its competitor Airtel, by announcing a massive reduction to Internet Dial Up, Mobile (local) and rentals rates for all post-paid and prepaid customers.

Easytalk’ was the new international (mobile/fixed-line) calling discount plan which took a massive 30% off the total cost of all international calls a customer makes every month, provided you pay a monthly subscription fee of R60.

The following month the company introduced new peak and off-peak rates for residential, business and payphone customers making local fixed-line-to-fixed-line calls.

April: Intelvision launches telephone, Internet services.

This made Intelvision the third company to offer telephone and Internet services in Seychelles.

Intelvision said it was high time to make maximum use of infrastructure such as the cable network installed to offer additional viable services.

The three services are being offered independently which means that customers are free to subscribe to either one of the services.

May: Dawn of new mobile era.

Seychelles took another significant step towards the further modernisation and rebuilding of its telecommunication infrastructure.

As part of an International Agreement between Cable & Wireless and Nokia, a brand new GSM/GPRS mobile network was installed.

The R35 million investments initially announced in November 2005 can be modified rapidly to provide 3G services as well.

Cable & Wireless said that nearly 30,000 mobile subscribers are now using the newly installed, latest world-class mobile GSM network and prepaid systems.

June: Intelvision launches own television channel.

Seychelles' premier cable TV company announced the launch of its very own television channel with a host of interesting movies, telenovelas and music.

“Intelvision One” is distributed through its network and is available free to all Cable TV subscribers as an introductory offer. The content includes a compilation of some of the most highly acclaimed and award winning television series such as The Soprano’s, 24 and the X-Files.

New subscribers have to pay a monthly fee of only R75 to receive this channel. The subscription fee is R900.