11 Apr 2019

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Mr Dikgang Makgalemele says the ministry does not have an Over The Top (OTT) service.

In response to a question from specially elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile, the assistant minister said the service was a value added service that would be considered during the course of the current financial year.

He said the ministry launched a youth television channel, NOW! TV last year and ‘while the channel is yet to appear on the public television space it is currently on the digital platform terrestrial television platform like Botswana Television.’

Mr Makgalemele said currently the ministry was in the process of procuring services for streaming of its NOW! TV channel.

He however indicated that the channel would create a platform for showcasing of content by the local performing and creative arts industry.

In addition, he said as a way of improving accessibility of internet services to its clients, his ministry was implementing a project for Wi-Fi connection in nine youth centres across the country.

He said the areas included Kasane, Kachikau, Mosojane, Matsiloje, Ghanzi, Letlhakane, Tutume, Mahalapye and Gaborone.

The project, he said, would be completed in July.

He added that libraries across the country would also be used for research on various available applications for content sharing.

Mr Reatile had questioned the minister if Botswana intended establishing an OTT platform for the local performing and creative arts industry in the country to help them generate revenue through content sharing.

MP Reatile also wanted to know when the platform would be established and how the ministry planned to capacitate Batswana to benefit from sharing their content on OTT platforms. ENDS