Communications in Seychelles

In the Seychelles, local and international telecommunications lines are operated by Cable and Wireless. As of 1997 there were around 11,000 telephone lines and in excess of 20,000 telephones, meaning that over half of the population have a home telephone [Carpin, Sarah, "Seychelles", Odyssey Guides, p.175, 1998, The Guidebook Company Limited, Retrieved on June 4 2008 ] . Digital microwave systems were introduced to the Seychelles in 1992 and Cable and Wireless also offers other services from its Seychelles Radio coast station. Direct international calls are available to over 100 countries worldwide.

In Seychelles the main daily newspaper is the "Seychelles Nation", dedicated to the local government views and current affairs and topics. Other political parties operate other papers such as "Regar". Foreign newspapers and magazines are readily available in most bookshops and newsagents and the papers are mostly written in Seychellois Creole, French and English.

Television and Radio

In the Seychelles, the main television and radio network is operated by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation which offers locally produced news and discussion programmes in the Seychellois Creole language. Broadcasts run between 3pm and 11.30 pm on weekdays and longer hours during the weekends. There are also imported English and French language television programmes imported on Seycellois terrestrial television and the growth of international satellite television has grown rapidly in recent years.

SBC Radio offers a service on medium wave in Kreol and broadcast from 6am to 10.30pm. Paradise FM on 93.6 FM and the French international radio channel RFI is also available on 103FM. BBC World Service has a station based in Grand Anse in southern Mahé which is also listened to in parts of East Africa [Carpin, Sarah, "Seychelles", Odyssey Guides, p.175, 1998, The Guidebook Company Limited, Retrieved on June 4 2008 ] . There is also a British Christian charity shortwave radio channel FEBA Radio which transmits from Mahe to over 30 countries in the Indian Ocean and Eastern Africa. This operates in numerous languages.

Internet and telecommunications

The Internet was introduced in the Seychelles by Cables and Wireless in September 1996 and as of 2000 there are approximately 2000 Internet subscribers in the islands. 60% are private or home users and 30% Business of which 30% is Government and 10% other businesses [ [http://www.itu.int/africainternet2000/countryreports/syc_e.htm The African Internet & Telecom Summit June 2000] , Overview of the Internet in Seychelles, Cable and Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd, Retrieved on June 4 2008] . There is currently only one Internet Service Provider in Seychelles, which is called ATLAS, which was formed by the three main computer companies in Seychelles: Space 95, VCS and MBM. However since 2000 Internet access has increased dramatically and recently the Internet was introduced to all the secondary schools on Mahe and Praslin.

In June 2008 a new Internet cafe opened on Praslin, set up in the district administration office at Baie Ste Anne, was sponsored by the Jj Spirit Foundation, the Lions Club of Paradise Seychelles and Cable & Wireless. [ [http://www.nation.sc/ "Young Praslinois linked to global internet highway", "Seychelles Nation", Retrieved on June 4 2008] ] . Other internet cafes had already opened in places like Anse Etoile, Roche Caiman and Mont Fleuri.

In his inauguration speech, National Youth Council chairman Lenny Lebon said: “It is indeed a memorable day for all the youth and children of Praslin since from this moment we are no more on an outer island but linked to the global network of cyberspace.” Natasha Lesperance, of the Youth Service Bureau, praised the vision of targeting young people to build a modern future for the Seychelles nation with telecommunications and believed that internet cafés opening in different districts would "wean young people and children away from all vices in society, which will eventually help to build a vibrant knowledge-based society that can stand shoulder to shoulder with any developed nation in the world" [ [http://www.nation.sc/ "Young Praslinois linked to global internet highway", "Seychelles Nation", Retrieved on June 4 2008] ] .

References