At the opening ceremony of the 17th edition of Infotech yesterday at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre, Pailles, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Mr T. Pillay Chedumbrum, announced a reduction in Internet tariffs by the end of December 2010.
The Minister stated that the legislation that governs the activities of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), which is the national regulator for the ICT sector and Postal Services, will be reviewed accordingly. This will enable the ICTA to reconsider the affordability of Internet tariffs as it deems necessary. Presently, reduction in Internet prices can only be applied if all regulators call for a decrease in the cost of Internet services.
Infotech is an annual major ICT event, organised by the National Computer Board (NCB), that aims at creating awareness on emerging technologies and providing business opportunities in the ICT sector. It provides information on developments and achievements in the sector and promotes local talents, expertise and know-how. The theme chosen for 2010 is Intelligent Mauritius, in line with government’s programme to convert Mauritius into a regional ICT hub with full Broadband Island wide Connectivity and to narrow the digital divide.
Infotech 2010, scheduled from 26 to 29 August, has registered a record number of 58 business participants for the ICT Exhibition. This year’s edition features for the first time a Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) stand to enable entrepreneurs and potential small investors to take stock of facilities available to support and encourage their commercial ventures. There is also the display of several ICT applications and other technology for effective business and individual solutions. Infotech 2010 also comprises the usual shopping zone, product demos, conferences by exhibitors, gaming zone, the ICT Career Fair and the BPO demo space.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, both the Executive Director and the Chairman of the NCB, Mr D. Faugoo and Mr S. Ramgoolam, indicated that the Government Online Centre (GOC), the key infrastructure that enables e-government and acts as an IT infrastructure service provider for government institutions, would be revamped to make it a reference for government online centres in the region. To address new challenges, its infrastructure would be reviewed while the underline technology behind GOC and its relative sites would be rejuvenated to accommodate applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, user-centred design and collaboration over the World Wide Web.
Moreover, in an endeavour to promote an ICT culture and develop an ICT literate nation, the initiative of setting up computer clubs with broadband internet access would be extended to 150 social and welfare as well as day care centres across the island. Currently, only 39 such centres benefit from those facilities. The project would be implemented by the NCB with the collaboration of the Mauritius Telecom Foundation under the Corporate Social Responsibility contributions. In the same line, the Foundation is providing a new cyber caravan to the NCB to make IT facilities available throughout the island.
No comments:
Post a Comment