The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) will no longer process manual applications for radio communications licences. The Authority has urged customers to explore the web licence application function to submit new applications and/or submit applications for addition of new equipment to the existing licence. BOCRA spokesperson Aaron Nyelesi, said the online self-service platform allows prospective...
Botswana has been ranked low on the Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Digital Competitiveness rankings despite various ongoing initiatives to improve the country’s digital competitiveness. Rankings are based on three key areas – knowledge, technology, and future-readiness. “Overall, Botswana ranks 63rd out of the 64 economies included in the 2021 IMD World Digital Competitiveness report, with...
From Botswana, Orange Money has collaborated with local content streaming platform UPICtv to support the country’s arts industry by facilitating mobile money payment for subscriptions. Launched last year by Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet), UPICtv is a streaming subscription service available at P50.00 per month, down from the original launch price of P75.00. According to BoFiNet...
Botswana has floated a tender for design, supply, installation, commissioning, operation and support of internet and backhaul connectivity in 61 villages. The project is expected to transform the public sector to efficiently provide services to citizens and businesses, reform the education system with a focus on building the human capital towards a knowledge-based economy (KBE)....
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is to review non-core technology areas of the business in an effort to holistically optimise operations. This undertaking forms part of the company’s digital transformation strategy 2021-2023, which seeks to optimise and monetise the company’s assets. “We have also started and we anticipate that any outcomes of this review will streamline...
Pan-African network operator Paratus Botswana, part of the Paratus Group, said it will invest US$6m in independent fibre connectivity to add to its existing infrastructure backbone. The company is following an ongoing trend in Africa to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure as COVID-19 related lockdowns force more people online and demand for network capacity increases. Paratus says...
The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has floated a tender for an international mobile telecommunications spectrum (IMT) licence for the provision of mobile broadband wireless access services. According to BOCRA the call is for the provision of mobile broadband wireless access services in the spectrum bands 450 – 470 MHz, 790 – 862 MHz, 2110-2200...
Pending new electronic payment service regulations have prompted Orange Botswana to assimilate Orange Money as a subsidiary. The new reserve bank regulations, enforced by the Bank of Botswana, will govern the licensing and operations of electronic payment service providers in the country. In addition to technology system specifications, including the use of fraud monitoring tools...
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) has been found guilty of breaching the terms of its licence by withholding high speed data connectivity from a competitor, as well as offering a service to its retail customers at below-cost pricing. The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has given the telco 30 days to rectify the issue or face...
The Botswana Communication Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has issued type approval verification guidelines for SIM-enabled devices to regulate access to the country’s telecommunications system network. BOCRA spokesperson Aaron Nyelesi said the guidelines are meant to protect the ICT networks and the consumers against adverse effects of widespread “non-type approved counterfeit and substandard devices.” The intention is...
