Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is a state-owned enterprise
incorporated under the BTC Act of 1980 to provide all public telecommunications services
in Botswana. Postal services were separated from
public telecommunications operations prior to 1980. From 1980 to 1995, BTC was operated by
UK-based Cable & Wireless under a management contract. Today, BTC has full internal
control over the operations of the company and Batswana fill the vast majority of the
key-management positions.The company has achieved a teledensity approaching 5.03, one of
the highest in the SADC region. The physical network is comprised of nearly 100% digital
switching and transmission systems. Besides fiber optic cable which became an integral
part of the telecom network, BTC has also deployed one of the most extensive microwave
networks in the continent linking most of the exchanges in the country. The company is
considering VSATs (small aperture terminal satellites) to further increase rural
connectivity.
The Ministry of Works,
Transport and Communications issued a new national telecommunications policy paper in
December 1995. The policy paper advocates among others the liberalisation of the sector,
the participation of the private sector to increase resources and supply, and the setting
up of a regulatory authority. These were embodied in two bills: Botswana
Telecommunications Corporation (Amendment) Bill 1996 and Telecommunications Bill
1996, which passed into law in September 1996. The new legislation removed BTC exclusive rights over the provision of
telecommunications services in Botswana. This opens
the doors for competition in the sector.
The other measures of the
legislation is the setting up of an independent regulatory body. Previously, BTC had been
self-regulating. Consequently, the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA)
has been set up to oversee and regulate the sector. Radio frequency allocation, licensing
and tariff setting are also the major functions of BTA. In July 1997, BTA has licensed BTC
as a telecommunications provider and as a telecommunications infrastructure owner.
The government is interested in
privatising BTC along with other parastatals, but no deadline has been so far announced.
Cellular (Mobile) phone
network
The cellular mobile network has
been liberalised with a maximum of two cellular radio operators. Following the submission
of bids by five companies, two operators were awarded cellular radio licences
with GSM technical standard:
Mascom Wireless, a
consortium with Telecom Portugal, Zimbabwe's DECI holdings (Econet, Zimbabwe) and
local Botswana firms.
The Botswana Telecommunications
Authority chose the Vista consortium (Simply Cell), 51
percent owned by France Telecom subsidiary France Cābles et Radio (FCR), as operator of a
national GSM wireless phone network, on December 1997. The Vista consortium was formed by
FCR with local partners following the international call for tenders launched in July 1997
by the Botswana government. The network was launched in June 1999.
Both cellular operators were
offered a 15 year license and went live by mid 1998. Mascom Wireless is
to cover the area between Lobatse and Francistown as well as the North West corridor from
Francistown to Shakawe via Orapa, Kasane and Maun, whereas Simply Cell
will also cover the area between Lobatse and Francistown , and the Trans-Kalahari Highway
up to Mamuno village on the Botswana-Namibia border.
The licensing conditions obliged
both cellular operators to establish 500 public phones each in rural areas within 4 years
of starting their operations. Other conditions given to the new entrants include
submission of rollout plans, financial details and ownership (Source: BMI-TechKnowledge
Communication Technologies Handbook 1999, and 2000).
Data/VSAT
BTC's SkyPlus product provides VSAT
networks for various applications including video conferencing, e-mail and telemedicine.
BTC's broadband ISDN network is undergoing testing and will be officially launched in
1999.
On-Going Projects (Source: BMI-TechKnowledge
Communication Technologies Handbook 1999)
Rural telecommunications
Development aims to increase access to telecommunications services in rural areas
including the Barolong Region and Northern Tuli Block. Fixed WLL and virtual telephony
will be implemented by main supplier Atio Corporation in a project financed by BTC and the
Botswana Government.
Expansion of access lines
to reach 160,000 connected lines by 2001 requiring the installation of 10 new exchanges
annually.
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Electronic mail started in 1988 at
the University of Botswana.
The introduction of Internet in Botswana has been delayed because of Botswana Telecoms
Corporation (BTC) policy which obliged all links to go through its X.25 data network at a
high cost. For a few years, UB could only afford an analog 9.6 Kbps link to South Africa
through the pioneer ISP, Info Botswana - now IBIS - , then later a digital 64 Kbps line to
CSIR, South Africa. The University of Botswana has been on full Internet access since 1997
following BTC's change of its policy after the pressure of demand became too great. The
Library at the University has currently published its web site.
The National Institute of
Development Research and Documentation (NIDRD) at the University of Botswana has
been one of the active networking agencies in Botswana. It is both the UNESCO/IIP and
UNECA national focal point.
The Department of Computer Science
at the University of Botswana
offers a two-year diploma programme leading to a Diploma of Computer Studies, and a
three-year (post year 1) degree programme leading to a B.Sc. Degree in Computer Science.
The Master of Library and Information
Studies (MLIS) programme at the University of Botswana was started in 1994,
replacing the Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies (PGLIS) programme
which the Department had been offering since 1986. The curriculum of the
Master’s programme takes a broader view of information work and relates it to
the current problems of society, especially developing countries. The MLIS is a two-yea,
full-time programme.
The Botswana Technology Centre (BTC)
was established to promote science and technology through research and development,
transfer of technology, policy development, support to industry, economic analysis, and
informational and educational activities. These efforts are aimed at improving the quality
of life of the citizens of Botswana, and supporting the economic development of the
country. The Technology Information Department
within BTC has three units: Communications, Computer and Information, and it ensures the
use of advanced information and communication systems to provide quality
service to its customers.
The HealthNet node in
Botswana is based at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, and the main users are from
the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Health Sciences, the Nyangabgwe Hospital, the
University of Botswana and WHO.
Botswana has an established national
development planning (NDP) process with 7-year cycle period. The current NDP8
cycle commenced in 1997 and ends in year 2003. At present, there is no national ICT
strategy. The nearest in existence is the strategy for ICT deployment in the central
government during the NDP8. The Strategy Statement defines a direction for Government in
the successful exploitation of ICT in governance. A prime aim of the Statement is to
ensure that ICT deployment is aligned closely to the strategic objectives and plans of
Government.
The Strategy Statement for the
current NDP8:
- is targeted at helping on critical
issues facing the Nation during NDP8
- takes into account of the prevailing
IT situation within Government
- recognises the current feeling
within Ministries of wanting to take more responsibility in directing and controlling
their own IT facilities.
The Strategy Statement spells out
the government vision for the NDP8 tagged "IT Vision 2003". The Vision reflects
the demands and needs of Ministries to get support systems in place quickly, embodies the
urgency to catch up in ICT after a slow start and addresses Government’s aspirations
of becoming competitive internationally at the earliest opportunity.
The catch phrase in the Strategy
Statement is stated as getting ICT right during NDP8, with quality and sustainability as
underpinning factors, that will contribute to a ‘fitter’ Government.
ICT development in Botswana has
been going on with full commitment of the government which is demonstrated in the
provision of an enabling environment, as well as increasing investment on ICT in the
public sector. However, there is an urgent need to address the issues of the absence of a
national ICT policy/strategy as well as the shortage of human resources, which may impose
an unimaginable limit on what returns on investment can be obtained.
