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Communications Division
:: Radio Communication Interference Complaint Form
:: National Frequency Band Plan - 20 - 3100 MHz

The following are the plans and strategies for the Department of Information Communication Technology. It will be a road map for the operations of the department.

• Modernise and update the national ICT policy and strategic plan.
  Create the necessary policy framework to accommodate for the convergence of the information technology and communications sector. Create the necessary forums for consultations with all key stakeholders nationally on ICT matters. Collaborate with local and international partners to formulate a new National ICT policy and detailed strategic plan.
  
• Work closely with stakeholders to make ICT hardware and software more affordable.
  Collaborate with the Department of Finance (DOF) and Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) and possibly other stakeholders to ensure that the retail price of ICT hardware is comparable to what is provided abroad. Engage in possible agreements with international software vendors so that they are discounted for students and teachers. Engage into discussion with DOF, CBS, banks and other stakeholders to provide loans to students, teachers, Government employees for the purchase of ICT hardware and software.
  
• Increase the residential penetration of computers and Internet access.
  Collaborate with stakeholders to provide discounted and more attractive Internet packages. Bundle Internet access with the procurement of a computer via a loan scheme. Encourage the uptake of computers.
  
• Collaborate with ICT service providers to continue investing in their infrastructure and introducing affordable and innovative services.
  Conduct a short study on investment in the ICT industry for the past couple of years. Evaluate if the investment in the ICT industry is adequate or requires more players. Work with stakeholders to established a conducive environment to stimulate further competition and introduce new services.
  
• Promote improved universal access to basic ICT service and ensure that tariffs are competitively priced.
  Work with stakeholders so that the coverage of services like cable TV, hot spots, public payphones, wireless and ADSL Internet access, should be extended to Praslin and La Digue. Review the USO Policy and see its implementation.
  
• Promote and facilitate the deployment of e-commerce in Seychelles. Work closely with SIB to enable launching more than one e-commerce service provider Collaborate with DOF to ensure the financial legislative framework is in order to accommodate e-commerce for even SME. Deploy the ITU donated hardware as an e-commerce assistance programme for parastatals and small businesses. Work with stakeholders to create awareness and educational campaigns on e-commerce.
  
• To connect all government departments to the Electronic Government Network (EGN) in order to allow for secure integration of the various information systems of government:
  This network will connect not only all the Government Department headquarters but also all the extensions of Government at the community level (e.g. District Administration Offices). In order to accelerate the deployment of this network, a combination of out-sourcing and in sourcing of works and services will be used. Part of this strategic is also to implement a government-wide intranet on EGN where Government officers can access to find relevant information and services internal to Government itself.
  
• To computerize the core processes of Government Departments with appropriate information systems:
  This involves working in close collaboration with the different government Departments and agencies on order to implement information systems that are relevant to their needs and supports the delivery of their core services. These systems will also focus on the capture of information, their processing and presentation in a manner to support the decision-making processes of Government. In order to accelerate the deployment of these systems a balance of in sourcing of parts of the system development cycle will be used. It is targeted that at least 75% of the Government Departments will have been computerised in the above manner by 2010.
  
• To make available Government Services (E-Services) available online on the Internet, where appropriate, for access by businesses and the public:
  As the computerisation process of Government Departments is undertaken, in each case, opportunities for delivery of online E-Services will be identified and these implemented. As a central part this strategy, is the development of a central Government E-Service Portal, accessible on the internet, whereby on E-Services offered by Government are available.
  
• Modernise the ICT legislative framework to bring it in line with established and developed ICT markets:
  This include the review the Broadcasting and Telecommunication Act and the development of the regulations pertaining to:
  
  > License Fees
  > Interconnection
  > Competition
  > Interception of communications
  > Infrastructure sharing
  
  Consultations will also be undertaken with all stakeholders on the drafts of these legal devices.
  
• Work to Increase the residential penetration of computers and internet access:
  Collaborate with stakeholders to provide discounted and more attractive Internet packages and explore the possibility of promoting the bundling of Internet access with the procurement of a computer via a loan scheme. The target by 2010 is to achieve at least a household penetration of computers of 25% and to have more than 6,000 internet subscribers nationally.
  
• Explore the possibility of connecting Seychelles to the main Internet optic fibre communication backbone via a submarine cable:
  Work with all service providers to establish the minimum requirement for the optic fibre submarine link to Seychelles . In collaboration with stakeholders, DOF, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and other agencies, establish a model for financing the establishment of this link and its maintenance. A framework for the utilisation of services on the cable by local service providers also needs to be established.
  
• Promote the expansion of a nationwide, all pervasive wireless network for Internet access:
  Review of the wireless network policy, as per international best practises, to allow all ISPs to have open access to frequencies (sharing of frequency band) required for the setting up of wireless networks (namely the frequencies related to WiFi). This is in order that all possible ISPs (present or prospective) can contribute to the deployment of wireless access nationwide. Work will also have to be undertaken with all stakeholders, in particular ISPs, to collaborate in the resolution of interference and other issues resulting from the opening up (sharing) of the designated frequency band.