Bashir Currimjee, Chairman of EMTEL Ltd

“EMTEL is revolutionizing Fintech, not only in our region, but globally”

Last Friday, the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) hosted a celebratory cocktail event marking the historic listing of EMTEL Limited on its Official Market. EMTEL’s Chairman, Bashir Currimjee, proudly addressed the audience, emphasizing this milestone as a testament to the company’s dedication to innovation, excellence and growth in the telecommunications sector. He highlighted EMTEL’s pioneering journey, starting in 1989, and its numerous advancements, including launching the first mobile telephony operation in the southern hemisphere, and establishing Mauritius’s first three-tier rated data centre. Mr. Currimjee also underscored EMTEL’s strategic global partnerships and its ground-breaking role in revolutionizing Fintech, both regionally and globally.

“Together, we will write the next chapter of success, innovation, and growth for our company and the telecommunications industry,” proudly stated the Chairman of EMTEL, Bashir Currimjee, last Friday, during a cocktail event hosted by the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) to celebrate the landmark listing of EMTEL Limited on the Official Market of the SEM.

Bashir Currimjee expressed his honour and pride in standing before the audience as Chairman of EMTEL, the first ICT company to be listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius. He stated that the occasion marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey and underscored its commitment to innovation, excellence and growth in the telecommunications sector.

“Over the last 35 years, we have significantly contributed to the advancement of not only the telecommunications and technology industry, but I believe this has also aided the economic development of the country,” the Chairman of EMTEL underscored.

Over the last 35 years, we have significantly contributed to the advancement of not only the telecommunications and technology industry, but I believe this has also aided the economic development of the country

He reminisced that in May 1989, EMTEL embarked on its journey in the telecommunications sector in Mauritius, and shared an anecdote: “At that time, there were only 40,000 fixed telephone lines in Mauritius. We had just experienced a cyclone, and 50% of the lines were down. What a journey it has been since then. We have pioneered numerous advancements, including the first mobile telephony operation in the entire southern hemisphere. We connected the islands of Agalega and Rodrigues, established Mauritius’s first three-tier rated data centre, led the first private sector-owned submarine cable, METIS, and launched the first wide-scale 5G network in Mauritius,” he stated.

To advance its ambitious vision, EMTEL has sought out strategic partnerships. With Airtel, notably, the second-largest mobile telecommunications operator in India in terms of subscribers, through their association with the Indian Continent Investment Limited, this has culminated in a technical service agreement for support and best practices in the global telecommunications industry.

“With global ICT provider Huawei for our network and equipment, and more recently with Eutelsat OneWeb, a global provider of broadband satellite internet services in low Earth orbit, this has allowed us to step into the satellite economy with the establishment of the region’s first-of-its-kind satellite ground station. As we embark today on this new chapter as a publicly traded company, we reflect on the years of hard work, dedication, values, and vision that have brought us to this point. From our humble beginnings to becoming a leading operator in the telecommunications sector, we have always strived to push boundaries, embrace change, stay ahead of the curve, and deliver exceptional products and services to our customers. We will continue on this trajectory and deliver on this promise through our combination of strategic global partnerships and the expertise of our teams at EMTEL. These highly-skilled professionals have been exceptional in introducing ground-breaking projects like the undersea cable, setting up and managing a future-proof data centre, and driving digital transformation during the most dynamic technology era of our times. Importantly, EMTEL is revolutionizing Fintech, not only in our region, but globally, driving business growth with telecommunication and digital solutions,” Bashir Currimjee said.

He added that the breakthrough mobile payment app Blink has seen a huge surge in downloads, and is widely accepted. Users can scan and pay in Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega, and now in India. EMTEL is enabling and enhancing financial integration between Mauritius and India, broadening the customer base and facilitating the lives of travellers. It has also become an indispensable part of Mauritian society by providing ICT solutions to people, homes, and businesses, and by supporting vulnerable groups and the environment.

“We will endeavour to join the sustainable SEM. With our pioneering sustainability efforts, particularly our recycling initiatives for digital and electronic equipment, EMTEL is leading the way in promoting circular economy principles and environmental responsibility in the telecommunications sector,” Mr. Currimjee stated.

He further explained that the listing of EMTEL on the Stock Exchange is a testament to the trust and confidence placed in them by their shareholders, partners, and customers.

“We recognize that trust is a proud, profound responsibility, and we remain committed to honouring and fulfilling that trust. As we look ahead, we are excited about the opportunities that being a publicly traded company will bring to EMTEL. Our strategic and transformative initiatives are progressing according to plan. This strong start positions us to create value for all our investors in the long term. We look forward to demonstrating EMTEL’s true growth potential, benefiting our investors in the future. We are committed to creating long-term value for our shareholders, and maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance, transparency, and open communication,” Bashir Currimjee concluded.