Communication in Seychelles

Seychellois Creole is the main language of everyday interaction. English is common in formal and institutional communication, and French is also used. No general translation or interpreting duty for ordinary communication has been established, so the language options of a particular authority, company or service should be checked when a matter requires precise understanding. Telephone and internet communication are established throughout Seychelles, although affordability and connectivity on the outer islands remain practical concerns. SCRA regulates and enforces communications rules, while DICT handles policy. Airtel and Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS) provide most consumer mobile services, including prepaid and postpaid plans, LTE or 5G connections, SMS, mobile data and fixed or wireless broadband. The country code is +248 and national telephone numbers are generally seven digits. Prepaid SIM cards are subject to registration requirements. Number portability has a legal basis, with changes made in 2025 and the related business rules completed by 2025, so a customer may be able to keep a number when changing providers under the applicable process. Prices depend on the provider and current offer. Published CWS examples include a SCR 100 starter pack with SCR 25 airtime and data top-ups of SCR 24 for 50 MB for 7 days, SCR 49 for 150 MB for 15 days, SCR 99 for 300 MB for 30 days and SCR 199 for 2 GB for 30 days. Published Airtel Combo examples range from SCR 288 to SCR 1,595 and include about 5 to 500 GB with unlimited local calls and SMS. Tariffs include VAT and can change, so the current price, validity period, data allowance and renewal terms should be confirmed when purchasing. For a service failure, contact the provider first and keep the complaint reference number. If the problem remains unresolved, submit a written complaint to SCRA with the contract, invoice, reference number and relevant correspondence. SCRA can examine the matter and mediate within its authority. Emergency calls use 999 for police, fire and ambulance services or 112 from a mobile phone. Other dedicated lines include 151 for medical emergencies, 152 for medical emergencies on Praslin and La Digue, 160 for the Department of Risk and Disaster Management, 133 for police crime-stopper or service complaints, 116 for the Child Helpline and 118 for the Elderly & Disabled Helpline. Seychelles Postal Services (SPS) is the designated public postal provider and maintains a universal postal service. It is a member of the Universal Postal Union, known as the UPU, since 1977. Services include local and international letters, printed papers, airmail, surface mail, parcels, EMS, tracking and proof of delivery. Parcels can weigh up to 30 kg. The published EMS estimate is about 5 to 7 days, but delivery depends on flights, ferries, customs and the island involved and is not a general guarantee. P.O. Boxes are available in Victoria, Beau Vallon, Anse Aux Pins, Anse Royale, Perseverance, Grand Anse Praslin, Baie Ste Anne Praslin and La Digue. An identity document is required, allotments run for up to 12 months, and published annual rental prices range from SCR 600 to SCR 1,500 depending on the location. SPS is also planning digital addressing and expanded courier or door-to-door services. Government communication is available through gov.sc and egov.sc directories and hotlines, the monServis service for online information, communication and transactions, and the E-Service Gateway for residents and organisations. SeyID is the trusted national digital identity system. Access generally requires being over 15, holding a valid NIN, having an email address and Seychelles mobile number, and completing electronic identity verification, known as eKYC. Validated accounts can use SeyID Sign for electronic signatures and integrity checks. The Electronic Transactions Act 2001 and its 2018 regulations recognise electronic records and signatures, but there is no general right to have every document accepted electronically by every authority. The 26 districts and 27 District Administration Offices provide local contact points. A person can also use a telephone call, email, personal visit or SPS letter or P.O. Box when online access is unavailable. Government directories, hotlines, monServis and the E-Service Gateway provide additional digital channels, but opening hours and electronic-document acceptance vary by authority. Communication costs are usually zero, but a particular service may set its own charge. Public information requests under the Access to Information Act 2018 are made to the designated Information Officer or relevant authority and remain subject to legal exemptions and procedural rules. The Data Protection Act 2023 regulates the handling of personal data, with the Information Commission, commonly called InfoCom, responsible for oversight. Depending on the circumstances, a data subject may request access or correction and may have rights concerning deletion, restriction or withdrawal of consent. Organisations should limit data collection to what they need, use it for a stated purpose, protect it and avoid keeping it longer than necessary. Devices, accounts and messages still carry privacy and cyber-security risks, especially when sensitive documents are sent through informal channels. Communication access is uneven. Seychelles has no evidenced, uniform national communication-accessibility system or comprehensive national accessibility action plan in the 2026 assessment. The Seychelles Deaf Association, the Centre for the Deaf and Seychellois Sign Language, also called Lalang Siny Seselwa, provide local functional support. Social Affairs has trained eight people, including four social workers who can act as sign-language interpreters. The National Assembly has piloted signed sittings and inclusion training. A person who needs an interpreter or another communication adjustment should tell the authority or service provider in advance; availability is not guaranteed everywhere. Digital access can also be limited by device costs, connection quality, island location, disability or digital skills. Most everyday communication conflicts are handled informally, and no general communication-mediation body or compulsory preliminary mediation process has been identified. Provider disputes follow the provider complaint process and then SCRA. Complaints about unlawful use or disclosure of personal data go to InfoCom. A complaint about delay, unfair treatment or another form of maladministration by a public authority should first go to that authority and can then be taken to the independent, free and non-adversarial Office of the Ombudsman, subject to its jurisdiction and exclusions. The Ombudsman does not replace courts and does not handle matters outside its legal remit. Preserve contracts, invoices, screenshots, emails, reference numbers and a dated timeline. Use 999 or 133 for a suspected crime or immediate danger, and 116 where a child needs protection.