(3 minutes)
· The Airtel telecommunication company and the government of Seychelles will work together for reducing data pricing to make the connections affordable for users, according to the Airtel Africa officials
· Managing director and chief executive of Airtel Africa Raghunath Mandava accompanied by Airtel Seychelles’ managing director Amadou Dina, met with President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House, Victoria
· Internet pricing and speed in Seychelles, are greatly criticized by locals and visitors
The Airtel telecommunication company and the government of Seychelles will work together to reduce data pricing to make the connections affordable for users, according to the Airtel Africa officials.
Managing director and chief executive of Airtel Africa Raghunath Mandava accompanied by Airtel Seychelles’ managing director Amadou Dina, met with President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House, Victoria. Airtel officials said that Seychelles being a small country far away from other countries, the company has to put to use one of the longest cables that have to run from various parts of the world. That makes the communication high cost since considerable cost has been incurred for laying the cables.
Internet pricing and speed in Seychelles, are greatly criticized by locals and visitors. Airtel offers a range of internet packages.
Postpaid data charges range from SCR349 for 5 gigabytes to SCR1,999 for 40 gigabytes. Prepaid data cost ranges from SCR24 for 50 megabytes to SCR1,999 for 15.36 gigabytes. In certain part of the country-Praslin and La Digue, two distant islands , have to be connected through microwaves, affecting internet speeds. Also, the main island Mahe, is a very hilly region. Because of this, communication becomes difficult through towers, although the company, of late , has increased the number of towers.
Airtel has decided to opening of shops in the country, the opening of a new office and a data centre to get closer to customers. Airtel, way back in 1998 established its presence in Seychelles. That was the first office to open for the company in 1988 outside India, where it is headquartered.
