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.