Communications in Seychelles
Encyclopedia
In the Seychelles
, local and international telecommunications lines are operated by Cable & 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. Digital microwave systems were introduced to the Seychelles in 1992 and Cable & 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.
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. The BBC World Service
has a station based in Grand Anse
in southern Mahé
which is also listened to in parts of East Africa.
There was also a British Christian charity shortwave radio channel FEBA Radio
which transmitted from Mahe to over 30 countries in the Indian Ocean and Eastern Africa. This operated in numerous languages. The FEBA Seychelles station was decommissioned at the end of March 2003, and short wave broadcasts were transferred to other stations, many in the former Soviet Union.
s in Seychelles : Atlas, Intelvision and Kokonet. ATLAS 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. Atlas has been acquired by Cable & Wireless Seychelles in 2005.
In June 2008 a new Internet cafe
opened on Praslin
, set up in the district administration office at Baie Ste Anne, under the sponsorship of the Jj Spirit Foundation, the Lions Club of Paradise Seychelles and Cable & Wireless. 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".
In 2009, following the conviction of the owners of The Pirate Bay
for copyright infringement, the popular BitTorrent site was sold to a Seychelles-based company called Riversella Ltd.
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
, local and international telecommunications lines are operated by Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless Communications
Cable & Wireless plc demerged in 2010 into Cable & Wireless Communications and Cable & Wireless Worldwide. For the other former C&W plc business, see Cable & Wireless Worldwide...
. 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. Digital microwave systems were introduced to the Seychelles in 1992 and Cable & 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
Seychelles Nation
The Seychelles Nation is a daily newspaper in the Seychelles. It is dedicated to local government issues but covers a wide range of current affairs and topics....
, 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
Seychellois Creole
Seychellois Creole, also known as Kreol or Seselwa, is the French-based creole language of the Seychelles. It shares official language status with English and French ....
, French and English.
Television and radio
In the Seychelles, the main television and radio network is operated by the Seychelles Broadcasting CorporationSeychelles Broadcasting Corporation
The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation is the national public broadcaster of the Seychelles.SBC operates a television network and an AM radio station at 1368 kHz on medium wave. These broadcast programmes in the three national languages: English, French and Seychellois Creole...
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
RFI
RFI can mean:* Rowing Federation of India* Radio Frequency Interference* Radio France Internationale* Remote File Inclusion* Request for information, a business process* Rete Ferroviaria Italiana...
is also available on 103FM. The BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
has a station based in Grand Anse
Grand' Anse (Mahe)
Grand'Anse Mahé is an administrative district of Seychelles located on the island of Mahé....
in southern Mahé
Mahé, Seychelles
Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles, lying in the north east of the nation. The population of Mahé is 80,000. It contains the capital city of Victoria and accommodates 90% of the country's total population...
which is also listened to in parts of East Africa.
There was also a British Christian charity shortwave radio channel FEBA Radio
Feba Radio
Feba Radio is a broadcasting network. It is driven by Christian values rather than by government or commercial aims. It was established in 1959 in UK as the Far Eastern Broadcasting Associates - associated with Far East Broadcasting Company operating in USA and Philippines and the Far East...
which transmitted from Mahe to over 30 countries in the Indian Ocean and Eastern Africa. This operated in numerous languages. The FEBA Seychelles station was decommissioned at the end of March 2003, and short wave broadcasts were transferred to other stations, many in the former Soviet Union.
Internet and telecommunications
The Internet was introduced in the Seychelles by Cable & Wireless in September 1996 and as of 2000 there were approximately 2000 Internet subscribers in the islands. 60% are private or home users and 40% Business of which 30% is Government and 70% other businesses. There are three Internet Service ProviderInternet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s in Seychelles : Atlas, Intelvision and Kokonet. ATLAS was formed by the three main computer companies in Seychelles: Space 95, VCS and MBM
MBM
MBM may be:*MBM an architectural firm based in Barcelona, Spain.*Meadowbrook Meat Company, an American foodservice companyIn computing:* MBM , mobile bitmap or multi bitmap...
. However since 2000 Internet access has increased dramatically and recently the Internet was introduced to all the secondary schools on Mahe and Praslin. Atlas has been acquired by Cable & Wireless Seychelles in 2005.
In June 2008 a new Internet cafe
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
opened on Praslin
Praslin
Praslin is the second largest island of the Seychelles, lying 44 km north east of Mahé. Praslin has a population of around 6,500 people and comprises two administrative districts; Baie Sainte Anne and Grand' Anse . The main settlements are the Baie Ste Anne, Anse Volbert and Grand' Anse.It was...
, set up in the district administration office at Baie Ste Anne, under the sponsorship of the Jj Spirit Foundation, the Lions Club of Paradise Seychelles and Cable & Wireless. 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".
In 2009, following the conviction of the owners of The Pirate Bay
The Pirate Bay
The Pirate Bay is a Swedish website which hosts magnet links and .torrent files, which allow users to share electronic files, including multimedia, computer games and software via BitTorrent...
for copyright infringement, the popular BitTorrent site was sold to a Seychelles-based company called Riversella Ltd.