Fixed Mobile Convergence

According to Research and Markets’ Mauritius - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts – 2011 report, Mauritius is pursuing a policy to make telecom the fifth pillar of its economy and to become a regional telecom hub with Singapore as a role model.

The Mauritius market has experienced the first with many innovations: Africa's first cellular service was launched in 1989; it got the first commercial 3G mobile service in 2004, the country witnessed the world's first nationwide WiMAX wireless broadband network in 2005, and one of Africa's first IPTV (News - Alert) services in 2006 was launched in Mauritius.

Mauritius's economy has faced the global economic crisis than many other African countries. IMF predicts that after a dip to around 1.5 percent, annual GDP growth will return to levels between 4 percent and 5 percent again in 2010/11, Research and Markets said in its “Mauritius - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts” report.

The mobile market has more than 90 percent penetration. The mobile market is approaching near saturation. There are two GSM-based networks – Orange (MT in partnership with France Telecom (News - Alert)) and Emtel, operated by Millicom International. They are competing with a CDMA2000 service operated by MTNL.

Broadband segment is witnessing the highest growth rates. HSPA and EV-DO based 3G mobile services are competing with fixed-line DSL and other wireless broadband offerings, including WiMAX (News - Alert). The country is seeing the introduction of FttC and FttH rollouts.

Initiated in 2011, the investigation of possible anti-competitive behavior by MT in the DSL and IPTV sector has the potential to shake the broadband access market and the market for digital media and entertainment.

The landing of a second international submarine fiber optic cable has brought prices down further in a broadband market.

The report offers a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Mauritius's telecom market, one of Africa's most developed telecom and digital media markets.

Recently Research and Markets also released   the “Africa & Middle East Telecom Insider / Vol. 3, No 4, Edition 5” report. According to the report, mYouth in the AME could become the largest consumers of mobile social networks. Handsets and mobile Internet access will serve to fuel this demand.

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