INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AUTHORITY

1st Floor, Jade House, Remy Ollier & Car Jummah Mosque Streets,

Port Louis,  MAURITIUS

                     

No. ICTA/INT/TO/10/2003                                                                           29th September 2003

 

THE TELECOMMUNICATION ORDER (10 of 2003)

 

In exercise of the powers conferred upon it under the Information & Communication Technologies Act 2001, the Information & Communication Technologies Authority (hereinafter referred to as Authority) hereby makes the following order in respect of tariff for accessing Internet through PSTN dial up mode.

 

1.                  Short title, extent and commencement:

 

i.                     This Order shall be called “The Telecommunication Order (10 of 2003)”.

ii.                   The Order shall come into force with immediate effect.

  

 2.     Tariff for Dial-up access to Internet

  

i.                         The Authority has reduced Interconnection Usage Charge (IUC) in respect of PSTN dial up calls accessing Internet in its Telecommunication order No.7 of 2003. The resultant tariff, after considering the savings in IUC charges is specified in Schedule-I hereto.

ii.                       The resultant tariff will be the maximum that can be charged from subscribers. The operators may at their option charge a lower amount than the one prescribed in Schedule-I.

iii.                      The revised charges in accordance with this order are to be implemented with effect from 1st October 2003, after intimating same to the Authority.

                       

3.     Explanatory Memorandum

 

This Order contains at Annexure-A, an explanatory memorandum to provide clarity regarding the tariffs specified in this Order.

 

BY ORDER 

 

N. Parameswaran

Executive Director

 

To:

i.   M/s Telecom Plus, Level 14, Telecom Tower, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis

ii.  M/s Data Communications Ltd, Cnr Mgr Gonin & Lislet Geoffrey St, Port Louis

iii. M/s Mauritius Telecom Limited, 18th Floor, Telecom Tower, Port Louis

Schedule-I to Telecommunication Order No. 10 of 2003

 

1

Date of Implementation

1st October 2003

2

Dial up charges for accessing Internet

 

Peak time

Maximum / Ceiling Rs.0.57 per minute

 

Off peak time

Maximum / Ceiling Rs.0.27 per minute

3

Peak timings

Peak Time: 7.00 – 24.00 hrs (From Monday to Saturday)

 

Off peak timings

Off Peak Time:0.00 – 7.00 hrs (From Monday to Saturday)

All 24 hours on Sundays and Public Holidays

4

Pulse rate

As currently applicable

 

 
 

Annexure-A

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

 

1.                  The ICT Authority has prescribed lower Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) payable by Internet Service Providers (ISP's) to fixed line operators vide its Telecommunication Order (No.7 of 2003). 

2.                  For Internet access calls originated by fixed line subscribers, the ISP's are paying Rs.0.33 per minute to Mauritius Telecom Limited. These charges ultimately form part of the charges levied on the customers. The ICT Authority initiated fixation of cost based IUC for calls between various operators.  

3.                  The IUC payable to a fixed line operator (Mauritius Telecom) constitutes a major cost element in the pricing of Internet access charges payable by customers. Considering the importance of Internet access in the growth of ICT and in order to bring it within the reach of everyone, the Authority decided to place the IUC for dial up calls below their cost. The fixed line operator recovers the balance cost from other IUC / call charges, which have been placed above cost. 

4.                  The Authority has fixed Rs.0.10 per minute as IUC payable by ISP's to fixed line operators. The cost of ISP's comes down proportionately with the extent of reduction in IUC payments.  The present tariff for PSTN dial-up calls accessing Internet are Rs 0.80 per minute for peak time and Rs 0.50 per minute for off-peak time. The Authority has decided to accordingly reduce the charges payable by subscribers for accessing Internet through fixed line dial up mode. Schedule-I gives the maximum tariff applicable for peak and off peak times after considering the reduction in IUC payment. The ISP's are free to fix lower charges, after intimating same to the Authority. 

5.                  The ISP's are also allowing packages to their customers wherein, based on assured usage, a discount in Internet access charges is given. The Authority, for the time being, is not prescribing changes in the packages, though they would have to be realigned in accordance with the revised dial up access charges.   The tariff for the packages shall not exceed the ceilings prescribed for PSTN dial-up charges for accessing Internet, at Schedule I.  The operators may modify charges / hours in the packages and intimate same to the Authority before implementation. 

6.                  The ISP's will also maintain the existing pulse rates.  

7.                  The revised Internet access tariff will apply from 1st October 2003.

 

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