Government’s Promised Free Internet for Youth Still in Limbo

Excitement among young people in Mauritius is palpable as they eagerly await the rollout of free internet services promised in the 2024-2025 budget. However, nearly three months have passed without any clear indication regarding how and when these plans will be implemented for the targeted demographic of 18 to 25-year-olds.

At the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation, there has been a complete lack of communication about the initiative.

Similarly, Mauritius Telecom has stated that no instructions have been issued regarding the free internet service.

A representative from Mauritius Telecom announced that a public statement will be released once the specific details are finalized, but until now, there has been no further information.

In a press statement following the budget presentation, Minister of ICT Deepak Balgobin had mentioned that his ministry was diligently working on the logistics to provide free internet access to young people aged 18 to 25.

He also criticized the opposition for making unrealistic promises of free internet for everyone during a public meeting on May 1.

“Free internet for all is not feasible. It does not exist in any country. That is why we aimed to focus on a specific group,” Balgobin explained.

As the wait continues, young people are becoming increasingly frustrated by the government’s silence.

Rishi, a student at the University of Mauritius, expressed his disappointment: “I thought we would benefit from free internet right away, like other measures have been implemented.

But we are still waiting. As a university student with half of my courses online, having a free plan would have been a great help. I wouldn’t have to rely on my parents to cover those costs.”

Sara, another university student, echoed Rishi’s sentiments, criticizing the government for failing to communicate details about the plan.

“There are many students like me waiting for the free package. Every time we ask if anyone has heard anything, we are left in the dark,” she said.

The uncertainty has left many young people wondering whether this promised initiative will ever materialize or if it was simply a campaign slogan.

Minister Balgobin had mentioned that about 90,000 youths would be eligible for the free internet service, but for now, those young individuals are left hanging, awaiting further announcements.

This isn’t the first time the government has offered free internet to young people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, initiatives were put in place to ensure that students from families registered with the Social Register Mauritius were able to access online classes.

Currently, the two main telecommunications operators offer monthly plans that cost approximately Rs 315 and Rs 371, meaning parents are still obligated to pay more than Rs 300 each month for their children to participate in online courses while they await clarity from the government.

Many parents see this situation as unjust, especially as the Mauritius Revenue Authority has already prepared to disburse various allocations announced in the same budget.

Source: Le Mauricien