14 Mar 2024

Government has set aside substantial funds towards expansion and consolidation of ICT infrastructure and online services in the 2024/25 financial year.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Communications, Knowledge and Technology minister Mr Thulagano Segokgo described Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and online services as major economic enablers across different sectors of the economy.

Mr Segokgo was presenting the 2024/25 financial year budget proposals for his ministry, amounting to P2 705 766 587. The budget proposal included P977 321 140 estimates for the recurrent budget and P1 728 445 447 estimates for the development budget.

The minister therefore pointed that the ICT programme would take the second largest share of P736 601 447 or 42.62 percent. of the ministry’s overall development budget. He said major projects to be financed under the programme included the National ICT Backbone,

Online Services project, Government Data Network Expansion, Government of Botswana Enterprise Architecture (GBEA) and Local Access Network, as well as the International Connectivity project.

Mr Segokgo said the ministry would implement seven new optical fibre links in the 2024/25 financial year, to improve connectivity across the country.

He said those links were the Sherwood-Zanzibar-Platjaan, Two Rivers-Khawa-Hukuntsi-Charles Hill, Metlojane-Jwaneng, Maitengwe-Mapoka-Ramokgwebana, Maitengwe-Manxotai-Nata, Gudigwa-Khwai and Nata-Gweta-Motopi.

He further said the links would be implemented to provide protection on the national ring and services to villages along those routes.

“All these projects managed by BoFiNet, are strictly implemented through engagement of citizen companies, thus creating wealth and employment for Batswana,” he said.

Mr Segokgo added that the ministry would upgrade some segments of the existing national backbone infrastructure network which has aged.

“Through the project, 45 major villages with a population of 2000 or more across all districts of the country would be provided with reliable, high speed internet through this project. This network upgrade will ensure customer experience is enhanced during busy times,” he said.

The minister told Parliament that his ministry had adopted a three-pronged approach at the National Backbone Layer, Local Access Layer and the International Layer.

He said successful implementation of projects covering the layers would go a long way in achieving universal service and coverage as well as improving Botswana’s connectivity to the rest of the world.

Mr Segokgo further said the ministry deployed optical fibre to essential facilities such as schools, police stations, business districts, hospitals in Mahalapye, Molepolole, Tlokweng, Kanye and Orapa during this financial year.

He said the projects were at more than 95 percent completion and scheduled to complete before the end of this financial year. He further said the Sebina-Nshakashokwe-Tutume optical fibre link was complete whereas the Takatokwane-Morwamosu was anticipated to be completed this month.

“The Oodi-Machaneng link will be completed in October, 2024,” he said.

Mr Segokgo said mobile coverage in Botswana was now 100 per cent of all gazetted settlements, while mobile subscriptions were at over 200 per cent of population.

He said the current population coverage of mobile broadband internet of 4G stood was 92 per cent. “To enhance this commendable achievement, the remaining settlements will be provided with mobile broadband services (4G) in the financial year 2024/25.

In major settlements, 50 new sites providing 5G mobile broadband services will be installed through the Universal Access and Services Fund,” he said.

The minister further said his ministry was actively engaged in migrating critical services to the new Digital Delta Data Centre.

He said the Digital Delta Data Centre was an internationally accredited facility owned by BoFiNet. He said the migration would address the perennial ‘system down’ problem the public was frequently experiencing.

He also said a robust Sovereign Cloud infrastructure to be called GovCloud would be implemented.

Furthermore, he said implementation of the National Cybersecurity Strategy was continuing.

He said that was crucial to protect Batswana, businesses and the government when transacting online. Mr Segokgo further said the ministry would review existing ICT policies, legal and regulatory instruments and also develop new policies and laws, to align with current and anticipated global trends.

He said that would include the review of the Electronic Transaction and Communication Act of 2014 to cover Online Services, development of the new Frequency Spectrum Policy, and the drafting of cybersecurity law.

Furthermore, he said there would be a feasibility study on the introduction of national roaming.

“If implemented, national roaming should lead to reduced pressure on mobile internet tariffs.

The self-service SIM Card Registration System, which was recently completed, will be launched in April 2024,” he said.ENDS