Here is what the latest report from DataReportal tells us.
The number of landline subscriptions is trending downwards. The latest report shows a 2.0% decrease in 2020 in the number of landlines and from 478,700 in 2020 to 469,100 in 2021.
There were 1.96 million mobile connections in Mauritius in early 2022, a 1.4% increase (27,000) between 2021 and 2022. This is 154.1% of the total population in January 2022.
Also at the end of January 2022, Mauritius had 826,900 Internet users, a 0.1% (958 people) boost between 2021 and 2022. According to the report, the average mobile internet connection speed via cellular networks was 22.45 Mbps compared to 19.69 Mbps for fixed internet.
The telephone network in Mauritius is provided by Mauritius Telecom (my.t). National and international communications are good. In general, houses, apartments and commercial premises have a line already installed. If not, an application must be made to the nearest branch either in person or online.
The connection is usually made within 15 days to 3 weeks. The installation costs for a landline (excluding VAT) are as follows:
Domestic line |
Professional line |
|
Refundable security deposit |
Rs 1,000 |
Rs 2,000 |
New line |
Rs 1,500 |
Rs 2,500 |
Landline transfer |
Rs 1,000 |
Rs 2,500 |
Line extension |
Rs 1,500 |
Rs 1,500 |
Renewal of internal cables |
Rs 1,500 |
Rs 1,500 |
Re-routing of the down conductor |
Rs 1,500 |
Rs 1,500 |
Moving the telephone installation from one room or office to another |
Rs 1,500 |
Rs 1,500 |
Monthly rental of the line |
Rs 90 |
If the installation of the landline is done outside office hours, an additional Rs 500 will be charged. This amount is added to the first invoice issued for the new line.
Good to know:
The hours considered as out of office hours are as follows:
Monday - Friday 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday and Holidays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
A security deposit is also required as follows: Rs 5,000 for foreign nationals and Rs 2,000 for professionals. The rental of the machine (optional) costs Rs 1,000, while the monthly subscription costs Rs 90 for individuals and Rs 225 for professionals.
To subscribe, you will need to produce the following documents:
Three providers share the mobile phone market in Mauritius: Emtel, my.t Mobile and Chili (Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Ltd).
All of them offer monthly plans as well as prepaid cards that are very popular among Mauritians.
You will find official stores of these suppliers in large shopping malls and downtown or simply online:
2 formulas are available: prepaid (purchase of credit as you use it) and postpaid (monthly).
To rent an Emtel mobile line, you must go to an Emtel store and present proof of address and your residence permit and/or passport.
The formulas
The public can choose between several prepaid packages:
As for Emtel's postpaid formulas:
Getting an Emtel mobile line
Get a prepaid line
Buy a prepaid starter pack, which includes the purchase of a SIM card - Rs 100. The provider includes:
Recharge a prepaid Emtel Mobile account
Emtel allows prepaid number holders to recharge their phone credit online, through Emtel Epin, Emtel Scratch Cards, ATM Recharge (at ATMs) and through SMS Topup.
Rent a postpaid line
Download, print and fill out the Emtel Postpaid application form to save time when registering at the showroom.
Go to one of Emtel's showrooms and present a national ID card or Residence Permit and/or passport, a recent proof of address (not older than 3 months), and preferably the bank details of the mobile line holder. The provider includes:
Rates - Billing is per minute:
Rent a my.t mobile line
2 formulas are available: prepaid (purchase of credit as you use it) and postpaid (monthly).
Prepaid plan
It all starts with the purchase of a my.t Prepay SIM card, which costs Rs 100 (VAT included) and contains:
The next step is to activate the my.t SIM card by calling 124 from the SIM card and following the instructions of the voice assistant.
Recharge a prepaid my.t Mobile account
To recharge a prepaid account, there are several options:
Scratch cards
Or
Recharge at the ATM of SBM, MCB, MPCB, Bank One
Recharge by SMS (SBM and MCB)
You must have a bank account with SBM or MCB and be registered for this service with the bank.
To recharge:
Send a "topup" SMS to 8726 for SBM if the recharge amount has already been decided at the time of the request, e.g., Rs 100. For MCB, send the amount to 8700.
Or
To recharge with a different denomination, send the SMS "topup xxx" to 8726 for SBM, where xxx is the denomination of the credit (Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 300).
Recharge with E-voucher
Some retailers can top up mobile phones with credit through my.t's E-voucher system.
Postpaid formula
Go to any Telecom Shop and present proof of address and your passport and/or Resident Permit.
Postpay 2000 at Rs 2,000 per month:
Postpay 1000 at Rs 1,000 per month:
Postpay 500 at Rs 500 per month:
The rates:
Call charges:
The packages
The operator offers several packages:
Chili offers its subscribers to purchase additional and optional services:
Rent a mobile line Chili
Chili is present through many agencies and resellers throughout the island. Get in touch with one of them to buy a Chili SIM card or a recharge coupon to top up your mobile credit.
For a first-time purchase:
Recharge a Chili Mobile account
Chili sells scratch cards to top up your mobile numbers. These cards are available at retail partners and at the following rates:
Using them is simple; just:
Important :
To subscribe to a monthly plan with one of these operators, go directly to the authorized store of the provider of your choice by presenting an ID or your residence permit/passport and proof of address less than 3 months old.
There are currently 5 internet providers operating in Mauritius, Emtel, my.t, Bharat Telecom, Chili, and Canal . My.t, however, is the market leader.
The average fixed internet connection speed peaked at 19.69 Mbps at the end of January 2022, with an increase of 1.80 Mbps, or 10.1%, during the same period.
As for WiFi spots, they are available in many public places: shopping malls, some fast food chains, the airport, etc.
Emtel
For internet connection, the telecommunications provider Emtel offers Airbox, namely Airbox 4G and Airbox 5G.
The formulas available are:
Regarding internet connection via Emtel Airbox, go to an Emtel or Canal agency to subscribe with one of the Emtel agents present and providing:
My.t
My.t offers TV Internet packages. Several packages are available:
All details are on the online brochure of my.t.
Concerning the internet connection via my.t, you must first check the eligibility of your line to the optical fiber by calling 8902. If it is eligible, you can proceed online or by going to a branch of the provider with your residence permit/passport, proof of address and possibly authorization from your landlord if the line is not in your name.
If you apply online, there are 2 possibilities:
For both options, you must apply online:
Bharat Telecom
The operator specializing in fiber optics offers 2 types of packages: unlimited offers and offers "Internet for a purpose", i.e., whose use is for a specific purpose, education, security and recreation, to discover here.
The unlimited offers
“Internet for a purpose” offers
For internet connection through Bharat Telecom, 2 offers are available:
Please note that once the installation request is approved, a technical team will schedule an appointment for the installation. The appointment time is 2 to 3 weeks, which may vary depending on natural factors or factors beyond the control of the supplier.
Important:
To date, the following areas are served by Bharat Telecom: Bananes - Beau Bassin - Belle-Rose - Castel - Camp Fouquereaux - Chebel - Cluny - Curepipe - Eau Coulée - Ébène - Floréal - Forest Side - Highlands - Hermitage - La Rosa - Mare d'Albert - Mesnil - Midlands - Mont Fertile - New Grove - Nouvelle France - Plaisance - Phoenix - Palma - Plaine Magnien - Petit Camp - Pinewood - Quatre Bornes - Rose-Hill - Rose Belle.
Chili
The operator offers 3 types of internet connection:
1. The C-Wingle USB connection key - Rs 1,500 (VAT included)
Features:
2. C-Wingle USB dongle with power adapter - Rs 1,675 (incl. VAT)
Features:
3. C-Box Router (Wi-Fi Internet at home/office) - Rs 2,850 (incl. VAT) with any Internet plan.
Features:
Plans
Packages |
Price (excl. VAT) |
Price (incl. VAT) |
Validity (days) |
Free use |
Activation code |
Unlimited monthly ( 2TB) |
Rs 608,70 |
Rs 700 |
30 |
Unlimited |
act ul |
Quarterly Unlimited (6TB) |
Rs 1,565.22 |
Rs 1,800 |
91 |
Unlimited |
act ulq |
Semi-annual Unlimited 12TB |
Rs 2,608.70 |
Rs 3,000 |
182 |
Unlimited |
act ulh |
Annual Unlimited (24TB) |
Rs 4,173.91 |
Rs 4,800 |
365 |
Unlimited |
act uly |
Good to know:
Once you have exceeded the allocated usage limit, the data speed is limited to 256 Kbps.
Useful links:
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Samu: 114
Fire and Rescue Service: 115
Coast Guard: 212 27 47
Police: 112 / 999
Line Barracks: 208 12 12
Tourist Police: 213 17 40
Electricity: 130
Water: 170
Child Protection Unit: 113
Crime Prevention Unir: 148
INFORMATION
Mauritius Meteorological Services: 686 1031
Telephone directory: 150
Tourist Information: 152
Flights: 89 65
Road traffic: 203 12 51
The growing development of tourism generates a significant flow of mail and frequent international deliveries thanks to the air service. However, during the high tourist season, the delivery time varies from 4 days to 3 weeks.
Opening hours of the post offices:
Monday to Friday - 8.15 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Saturday - 8.15 a.m. to 11.45 a.m.
Useful link:
Sometimes a letter or a parcel needs to reach its recipient very quickly. There are several services available for this purpose: