RADHACHARAN SHAKYA Senior Advisor ICT Authority Mauritius ICT

RADHACHARAN SHAKYA Senior Advisor - ICT Authority, Mauritius

ICT in Mauritius as at date

Tariff evolution

Access Spectrum Assignment GSM 900 MHz 1989 ETACS 800/ 900 MHz 1996 Broadband Wireless Access CDMA 800 MHz WLL 1997 2. 4, 2. 6, 3. 5, 5. 2 GHz 2004 2005 Broadband Wireless Access IMT All Techs 900 MHz 5. 4, 5. 8 GHz 2006 IMT Wi. MAX UMTS 2100 MHz CDMA 800 MHz 2. 6 GHz 3. 5 GHz 2012 IMT LTE 1800 MHz 2017 2018 IMT LTE 2100, 2600 MHz

Broadcasting Spectrum

Opportunities - Administrative Merger of ICTA & IBA PLMN Licences expiring in November 2018/2019 Renewal period 3 years + 3 years Undergoing Projects -Smart City, Safe City & Metro Project • Exploring possibility of spectrum trading and sharing • Exploring possibilities of Virtual Network Operators (VNO) • •

Opportunities - Technical • • Digital dividend TV white space Convergence of services & technologies M 2 M and Io. T /Io. ET 5 G technology Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) Availability of spare spectrum • • 3. 5 GHz 2. 3 GHz 2. 1 GHz (partial)

Digital Dividend

TV white space • Expression of interest was floated but not finalized • No field trial done • Can learn from world communities especially South Africa experience • Bring out consultation paper on TV white space to move ahead

M 2 M and Io. T/Io. ET

5 G Technology

Smart City Plan

Smart City Plan

Challenges

Spectrum Management Challenges • Limited and Saturated Market • Meeting expectations of stakeholders – • Government • Service providers / licensees • Investors • Public / customers • Fast growing technology making small span of life – no local manufacturer • Keeping pace of regulatory framework with technology • Add new spectrum management tools in our tool kit • Continuous re-farming of frequency band aligning to latest technical evolution

Limited and Saturated Market

Meeting expectations of stakeholders Government would like to have: § ICT sector as 3 rd pillar or better § ICT contribution to GDP should be over 5. 6 % § Foreign Investment to grow § Large growth of employment in ICT sector Service providers / licensees: § Long term policy § Long duration of Licences § Positive return on their investments § Level playing field § Bring OTT players in licensing framework Investors: § Positive environment § Clear long term policy § Ease of doing business § Minimum intervention of government/regulator Public / Consumers: § Affordable price § Defined quality of service § Quick and transparent grievance handling mechanism § More choice § Choice to change operator § Latest technology

Fast growing Technology § Short life span of telecommunications equipment § Recurring high investments-even before to break even § Continuous investment for capacity building § Pre-maturity deployment § Priority Shifting - Spectrum Band § No local study on long term and persistent exposure to radiation § Interoperability & Standardization

Way Forward • Unified Licensing • Technology/Service Neutral spectrum allocation • Devise an innovative mechanism for spectrum allocation • Introduce Spectrum Trading, sharing and Leasing • Allow Virtual Network Operators (VNOs) • Induct new technologies after industry consultations-TV White space, Digital Audio Broadcast, Lo. RA, Sigfox, etc • Meeting the vision of the Government making Mauritius a Smart Island ICT hub for world community

Thanks