Seychelles ranked top on the African continent

Figures released by the Department of Information and Communication Technology, shows that by the end of 2009, there were 110,668 mobile subscriptions, corresponding to 126.77% per 100 inhabitants.

The DITC says this figure is on par with penetration in developed countries.

Mobile penetration in Seychelles has indeed more than doubled in Seychelles since 2005. Internet penetration has also continued to increase but at a much slower pace. To date the number of Internet subscriptions exceeds 7,000.

In its latest publication, “Measuring the Information Society 2010” the International Telecommunication Union, ranked Seychelles the top spot on the African continent in terms of ICT development.

Out of the 159 countries surveyed, Seychelles has been ranked 66, ahead of counties such as South Africa and Mauritius.

Eleven indicators were used in the survey entitled Measuring the Information Society including ICT access, use and skills, and includes such indicators as households with a computer, the number of fixed broadband Internet subscribers, and literacy rates.

Despite its success, Seychelles is still lagging behind other countries in the use of widespread deployment of ICT services, especially broadband Internet infrastructure as a tool for public service, particularly in health, education, employment and social integration.

Highway Africa 2010: Changing the dynamics of telling the African story

For the sixth times I was again lucky to be amongst the more that 500 journalists from over 40 countries who converged in Grahamstown for the annual Highway Africa conference.

This year the world’s largest gathering of African journalist was temporarily moved from its traditional September calendar to coincide with the FIFA World Cup event in South Africa.

From 4th to 7th July delegates met to discuss "African Voices in the Global Media Space". Speakers included the retired Ghanaian President John Kufuor Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The conference was an opportunity to explore how the internet and mobile technology are transforming Africa’s media and society. Coming from one of Africa’s smallest state, I had the opportunity to discuss with my counterparts, how Africa’s media is framing the continent’s role in the global development agenda.

Other topics of particular interest to me were Seychelles relationship and partnership with China like the rest of the continent, how the business of the media is changing in light of the rapid uptake of internet and mobile technology and the propagation of underground radio on the continent.

Being based on a small island state, one thousand miles from anywhere, it is imperative that I make this pilgrimage on an annual basis. This is where the African media trends, developments and more challenging issues facing the African media in the realm of globalization are addressed.

As the new millennium ages on, African journalists need more exposure to these media trends and challenges, not only to get in touch with the vast global phenomenon, but to change the dynamics of telling the African story

Faure appointed ICT Minister

Vice-President Danny Faure has been appointed Seychelles’ the new Information and Communication Technology Minster following the latest cabinet reshuffle.

He replaces Jacquelin Dugasse.

The reshuffle means that ICT will now get a stronger focus under President Michel’s Cabinet. Previous the department was part of the National Development ministry, lead by Minister Dugasse.

The sudden shift in leadership has produced a strong note of optimism within Seychelles's ICT industry.

Observers say they are hopeful that communication around major ICT initiatives, such as the planned fibre-optic submarine cable project would speed up.

In his first interview following his appointment, Vice-President Faure gave the impression that there is now a better understanding of what technology can do for Seychelles within the government.

After having supervised the IMF-sponsored economic reform since October 2008, Faure has now been trusted with the Public Administration and ICT industry reforms.

But political observers say it would work better if it wasn't a politically-based appointment, commending the Obama administration for having taken a senior technology industry person into that role.

Seychelles Media Association forms

After nearly a ten year absence, the Seychelles Media Association (SMA) has been given a new lease of life. The move was made possible with the support of the Reporters sans Frontières, which is based in the French capital Paris.

A similar association regrouping all Seychellois media professionals had existed in the past, but was short-lived.

However, the formation of the new body is attracting its own controversy. Its inaugural chairperson is the newly appointed Managing Director of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Antoine Onezime. As his appointment is made by the President, many feel this is a calculated attempt by the executive to influence this independent NGO.

The appointment of two members of parliament on the executive committee, although both are former journalists of the SBC have also raised a few eyebrows, about political meddling.

An independent media landscape is still in its infancy with the government controlling both the national broadcaster and the daily newspaper and limiting the liberalisation of the airwaves, whilst the ‘independent press’ is controlled by the political powers.

Embracing new technologies

Advances in information and communications technologies (ICTs) are changing the local media dynamic. Representatives of several NGOs gathered for a two day training workshop this week, to learn new ways to interact with their audiences. The workshop organised by the Seychelles Gender and Media Association, GEMPLUS was conducted by three local media professionals.

Participants learned the art of blogging, how to use their mobile phones to gather news and other online devices such as chatting and e-news letter to bring their content to their customers. They can now use their new found skills and rely less on the traditional media to disseminate their information.

The workshop was sponsored by UNDP, in its effort to promote media freedom and access to information.