Mauritius - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Mauritius - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

The longstanding dispute between the regulator and the two main telcos has had some beneficial effects for the country’s consumers. After the regulator tried to revoke Vodafone Lesotho’s licence in late 2020, the company fought back and secured a reprieve from the courts. Having considered that one of the difficulties in its relationship with the telco stemmed from its reliance of Vodacom reporting on itself, the regulator in early 2021 secured a system to monitor traffic and billing systems, aimed at protecting consumer rights and safeguarding quality of service.

However, the regulator has also assumed the right to approve appointments to managerial positions made by Vodacom Lesotho or Econet Telecom Lesotho, which has been contested by the operators.

The dispute also encouraged the regulator to make changes to the market more widely. Although technically the telecom sector is open to competition, in effect it has remained a duopoly, with new entrants only having been able to become players on invitation from the regulator. This changed from October 2020, when amendments made to certain rules came into effect, which removed this restriction and allowed any prospective market entrants to apply for a licence. Licensees must provide services within two years.