National Broadband Policy 2012-2020 (NBP2012)

Definitions of Data:

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Main Focus of Document:

This documents contains the overall objectives of the Government towards establishing a solid and reliable broadband service for the country which they have deemed i-Mauritius and also sets out the strategies for achieving this.

Target Beneficiaries or Sectors:

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Key Elements:

The policy sets out a strategic vision for a broadband Intelligent Mauritius (Towards i-Mauritius). It focuses on defining and implementing a broadband ecosystem for Mauritius, along with the required regulatory framework. This is intended to help achieve robust competition and maximise consumer welfare, innovation and investment; ensure efficient allocation and management of scarce resources; reform current universal service mechanisms to support universal deployment of broadband; support efforts to boost adoption and utilisation of broadband; and facilitate reforms to laws, policies, standards and incentives in order to maximise the benefits of broadband in sectors where government has significant influence. The Policy lists a range of actions to achieve these objectives.

The first action is to establish competition policies to foster competition across the broadband ecosystem. This includes:

• introducing phased price reductions for broadband services and tariffs for international connectivity alongside parallel price regulation upstream;
• defining time specific zero (or <15%) VAT policies for investment and broadband consumption;
• developing disclosure requirements for broadband service providers to avail pricing and performance information for consumers;
• undertaking a comprehensive review of wholesale competition rules;
• initiating procedures to allow data roaming; and
• clarifying the obligations of firms collecting personal information so consumers know what information is being collected, consent to such collection and can control disclosure of information to third parties.

The second action area focuses on ensuring efficient allocation and management of scarce resources. This includes:

• more efficient allocation and assignment of spectrum by making 500 MHz of spectrum available for broadband within 10 years (of which 300 MHz should be made available for mobile use within 5 years);
• availing incentives (e.g. through incentive auctions) and mechanisms to repurpose spectrum to more flexible uses;
• ensuring greater transparency in spectrum allocation, assignment and use through a spectrum dashboard; and
• expanding opportunities for innovative spectrum access models. To optimise infrastructure use, the Policy looks to establish low and more uniform rental rates for access to poles and simplified and expedited processes for service providers to attach facilities to poles; improve rights-of-way management for cost and time savings; promote the use of municipal and local authority facilities for broadband; expedite resolution of disputes and identify and establish best practice guidelines for rights-of-way policies and fee practices for broadband deployment; and facilitate efficient new infrastructure construction through 'dig-once' policies allowing joint deployment of broadband infrastructure when government is financing highway, road, bridge and building projects.

The third main action is to reform universal service mechanisms. Key policies in this area include:

• broadening the USC contribution base;
• ensuring universal access to broadband network services;
• establishing a Broadband Connect Mauritius Fund to mininise gaps in broadband connectivity; and
• introducing a Lifeline programme to provide subsidies to low-income Mauritius to use for broadband.

The fourth action line is to support adoption and utilisation of broadband. This is to be achieved by launching a National Digital Literacy Group to organise and train youths and adults to teach digital literacy skills; facilitating the emergence of private sector programmes to address barriers to adoption; and redefining the scope of the USF towards supporting adoption and utilisation strategies.

In addition to these areas, the policy also includes actions to increase the use of broadband as well as investment and innovation for national priorities such as health care, education, energy and environment, economic opportunities, public safety, emergency communication and national security, and improving government services. The Policy adopts a phased approach to achieve these objectives in three phases: promotion (2 years), oversight (2 years) and universalisation (3 years). To assist implementation, the Policy provides for the establishment of a National Broadband Task Force to coordinate implementation, the creation of a Broadband Data Depository, and the publication of a Broadband Performance Dashboard with metrics designed to track broadband policy goals.