14 Jul 2014

Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) chief executive officer, Mr Alan Boshwaen says the organisation acts as a catalyst in the development of the ICT industry and creation of an innovation supporting ecosystem.



Speaking at the announcement of a lease agreement between BIH and Concerotel, he said BIH also supported the development of innovative local content, skills and job creation as part of the national ICT development strategy and e-government.



“This is a first ever lease agreement for private sector led development at the BIH Science and Technology Park,” he said.The signing of the lease was a culmination of BIH’s continuing efforts to attract investments from innovative companies and institutions, he said.



He said the agreement allowed Concerotel to establish a new satellite communications hub facility, data centre and network operations centre at the park.

 “The company will also establish a small video conferencing facility for high quality access to Gaborone based SMEs,” he said.



Mr Boshwaen further said the signing of the lease agreement further signals a milestone in the Botswana Innovation Hub specialised real estate product and service offering for companies that wish to set up at the park,” he said.



For his part, Concerotel spokesperson Mr Thuli Ntsatsi said ConcerolTel is a joint venture telecommunications company established in Botswana by ConcerolTel of Australia and Decibel Enterprises of Botswana.



“The company’s directors are Mr Mark Sprey (chairman), Mr Tiro Mosinyi (managing) and I,” he said.The company aims to deliver low-cost, high availability ICT access services to bridge the digital divide in Botswana and launch into sub-Saharan Africa, he noted.



He said the company offers satellite solutions to expand on existing terrestrial technologies such as fibre optic, copper and wireless/radio technologies and this technology enables rapid deployment for rural and remote access.



Mr Ntsatsi indicated that delivery of equipment for setting up the satellite centre is scheduled to be complete by August 31 2014 and the testing and live deployment of the first services will be available to customers during September 2014.

“

Tenders for construction of the data and network operating centres will be issued in November 2014,” he added.



He said the network operations centre will be twinned with their Australian sister company’s facility to exploit time differences for 24hrs managed network support, indicating that such support is useful to customers such as mining companies and banks whose services run around the clock.



Mr Ntsatsi further said BIH is located in a key part of Gaborone where vital industry is located, citing the Diamond Technology Park as an example.

The project will cost P20million and the lease agreement is for forty-five years, he said. Ends