The government of Mauritius has launched a new scheme under which citizens aged 18 to 25 years are eligible to get free mobile internet services as part of a government drive to prepare the younger generation for the country’s digital future.
According to an official government statement issued Saturday, the scheme – which was included in Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth’s Budget Speech 2024-2025 and took effect on Sunday – targets around 100,000 people in the 18-25 age bracket, and is overseen by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA).
To access the free service, eligible youth have to register via the MRA website and submit their National Identity Card Number and mobile phone number. Once their application is approved, they can get a free, renewable monthly package of 200GB from any of the country's three mobile operators: My.t Mobile (the mobile unit of Mauritius Telecom), Emtel, and Chili Mauritius (the mobile unit of Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Limited).
The packages include 4G and 5G connectivity, as well as access to 350 Wi-Fi hotspots.
In a speech on Saturday to launch the scheme, Jugnauth said the objective is to help youths “thrive and reach their full potential in a modern digital world” by providing access to digital tools, platforms, information and online educational resources, as well as helping them find employment in the IT sector.
Jugnauth added that it was “important to work towards making internet access affordable for everyone across different socioeconomic backgrounds.”
Perhaps aware that young people will inevitably use free mobile data services for things besides education, employment and upskilling, Jugnauth also “cautioned young people on the misuse of the internet.”