14 Sep 2014

The chief executive officer of Botswana Telecommunications Limited (BTCL), Mr Paul Taylor says his company strongly believes that Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a proven socio-economic enabler which can bring positive changes in life.

Speaking at a dinner hosted for attendants of the 9th Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA) at Lansmore Hotel in Gaborone, on Wednesday, September 10, Mr Taylor said networking between organisations and people would not only help keep them in touch but improve their contributions to society as they learn from each other.

He noted that E-Learning in particular, offers the advantages of a flexible work, life, and learning and reduces travel cost and time to and from institutions of learning. In this regard, he said learners can study wherever they have access to a computer and internet. 

Mr Taylor, whose audience comprised of telecommunications network providers and participants of the Human Capital Development and E-Learning three-day workshop, noted that E-Learning would help ensure that developing countries like Botswana are not left behind as the world moves towards a single knowledge based society.

The BTCL chief further noted human capital is arguably the most important asset for any organisation, adding that at BTCL they are proud of their employees and the values that they live, which are; teamwork, ownership, delivery, simple, pride and most importantly fun.

He also thanked Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet) for extending the opportunity to BTCL to host the dinner more so that they have a good working relationship.

Giving the background of their relationship, he said in August 2010, the government approved a strategy that involved, among others the establishment of a separate entity to manage and operate Botswana’s backbone and international transmission networks.

Such service had and was until recently provided by BTCL, established by an Act of Parliament in 1980. The strategy initiated the creation of a new operating environment for local telecommunications industry. BOFINET has been established as an operating entity with BTCL as its largest customer by some way, he said.

BTCL, he said is in the final stages of preparing for privatisation. 

Mr Taylor said the exciting journey culminated in ownership of BTCL transitioning to an environment where BTCL is 49 per cent owned by citizens and citizens owned companies. ENDS