The Mauritius Central Automated Switch (MauCAS) is a novel state-of-the art digital hub fully owned and operated by the Bank of Mauritius for routing payments among operators on a 24×7 basis.
MauCAS, which is built on open standards, will enable banks and non-bank operators to provide transformative payment and value-added services through cards, mobile phones and other innovative channels.
As the central payment switch, MauCAS will simplify the current retail payments by routing transactions made through cards and mobile phones for settlement at the Bank of Mauritius. This will enhance efficiency in the system while maintaining the interoperability of different channels of payments.
The goal of MauCAS is to create an enabling environment for digital payments, and which will support the development of Mauritius into a digital economy.
Additionally, MauCAS aims at:
- Providing a multifaceted inter-operator switching platform for various payment channels that will easily integrate local and international payment systems;
- Reducing infrastructure acquisition and ownership costs through shared costs among stakeholders;
- Creating a common platform for key players to develop e-products that would extend the coverage of services beyond the traditional bank clientele;
- Providing an open system for businesses to enhance utilisation of electronic payments countrywide;
- Increasing versatility of payment options through the concept of ‘anywhere, anytime payment’.
MauCAS provides several benefits to the whole payment industry in Mauritius, namely, customers, merchants, service providers and the Government through:
Lower transaction costs: As a direct intermediary between payment operators, MauCAS will bring the much-needed efficiency in dealing with domestic payments, which up to now required a non-domestic intermediary. MauCAS will charge much lower routing fees to operators who will pass on the benefits to their customers.
Lower operation costs: MauCAS will be central payment infrastructure allowing payment service providers to connect to the system through low cost direct interfaces thus benefiting from economies of scale to reduce operation costs.
All banks involved in domestic payments will be de facto participants in MauCAS. Participation is also open to non-bank payment service providers, upon application to the Bank of Mauritius and fulfilling conditions for participation for provision of retail payment services to the domestic market.
