Paratus Botswana has confirmed the installation of the first independent fibre in Gaborone’s Central Business District, effectively linking up the local business community to its network. According to a statement released to the media, the service provider initially invested in microwave infrastructure, creating an independent ring in Gaborone and extended that across the border into...
Botswana’s government has announced the imminent introduction of several measures to help the country extend connectivity reach and achieve digital equity. The country’s Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Thulagano Segokgo said the government intends to increase geographical coverage of mobile signals, as well as levels of penetration, to extend the reach of fixed services...
The government of Botswana has unveiled plans to invest around USD12.7 million to connect 500 villages across the country to the internet. The funding will come from the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF) which uses contributions from telco revenues to improve connectivity in rural areas and in public buildings, such as schools. All villages...
The Competition and Consumer Authority of Botswana has unconditionally approved the acquisition of 100% of Broadband Botswana Internet (BBi) by Paratus Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd (Paratus). Both Paratus and BBi are licensed to provide a range of network and data management solutions and services to the business and residential sectors in Botswana. The aim of the...
Orange Botswana has invited non-governmental organisations to support the roll out of Digital Centres mandated to empower female technologists and entrepreneurs. The company has set a deadline of March to have the support in place to back these centres and believes the initiative will help address the demand for digital skills and help combat gender...
ICT contributed 2.7% towards Botswana’s total GDP during Q3 of 2021, up from 2.4% in the second quarter. This is according to the latest figures from the country’s data authority Statistics Botswana (SB) which indicate that the ICT sector contributed P1, 130.9-million to GDP. Statistician General Dr Burton Mguni said the increased contribution is attributed...
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)....
