8digit Implementation En

NEWS RELEASE

Stakeholders to discuss Implementation of the 8-digit Numbering Plan
for Mobile Networks for the Republic of Mauritius during Consultative Workshop

Port Louis: The Information and Communication Technologies Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology will be holding a one day workshop as part of the ongoing consultation with stakeholders over the issue of the National Numbering Plan for Mobile Networks for the Republic of Mauritius.

At present, under this plan, mobile telephone numbers in Mauritius are made up of seven digits. But in recent years, the need has been felt for the plan for mobile numbers in Mauritius to be reviewed with the recommendation to switch to 8-digits. 

The ICT Authority considers that today the need for an 8-digit numbering plan has become ever more pressing.  Out of a population of approximately 1.3 million, there are approximately 1,275,000 mobile phone subscribers, of which 1,171,982 are prepaid and 102, 238 are postpaid.

Mobile operators have reviewed their internal re-use policy in order to cater for the growing demand of mobile numbers in accordance with guidelines set by the Authority.. In telecommunications, numbering is a scarce resource and mobile numbers in Mauritius are currently nearly depleted.   Such a situation is also hindering industry innovation.

Amongst the many other reasons being put forward for a review of the Numbering Plan for Mobile Networks in Mauritius is that the current structure is not as coherent as wished for since numbers allocated for mobile services are interspersed with fixed numbers.

Implementation Date

One of the decisions to be taken as part of this project, for the policy maker and the ICTA, is the date for implementation of the plan.  It is precisely to address this and other issues not just related to the ICT sector but to other sectors as well as the public, that this one-day multi-stakeholder workshop on the Implementation of the 8-digit Numbering Plan for Mobile Networks for the Republic of Mauritius is being organised.

Representatives from the Government, telcos, the private sector, from consumer organisations and civil society will be amongst the participants taking part in this workshop.

The Honourable Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum, Minister of Information and Communication Technology will officially open the workshop on Thursday 3rd May at Ebony 1, Hennessy Park Hotel, Ebene Cybercity, Ebene as from 9.30 hrs.

27 April 2012