14 Jul 2025

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, advanced digital network infrastructure is pivotal in fostering a robust digital economy and society, says Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere.

Therefore, Mr Tshere said his ministry was committed to connectivity initiatives critical in the support of regional integration and cross border trade with neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Namibia.

Speaking during the recent launch of Trans Kalahari Corridor-Joint Law Enforcement Operation (TKC-JLEO), he said the goal was to ensure reliable connectivity for the business sector, travel and tourism and the general public residing along Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC).

“Communication availability and accessibility everywhere and anytime is vital for various important reasons such as safety, emergency, trade and social,” he said.

Mr Tshere said the ministry had partnered with Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) to regulate the communication sector and promote provision of reliable and affordable services to all.

Furthermore, he said the growth of the communication industry in Botswana necessitated the establishment of a trust fund, the Universal Access Service Fund (USAF) in 2014.

The minister said its mandate was provision of financial incentives for service providers to connect communities despite their geographical location.

He said through surveys and assessment exercises commissioned through the fund to measure the status of the network connectivity, his ministry managed to establish connectivity gaps.

The identified gaps, he said covered about 374 km from Pioneer border post to Kang village and about 387 km from Kang to Mamuno border post evident that indeed network connectivity was a challenge.

However, he said efforts to close the connectivity gaps were ongoing as some contracts had been awarded to Mascom, Orange Botswana and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) to establish new sites along the crucial corridor and other identified communities.

Mr Tshere confirmed that in 2018 Orange Botswana was tasked with network connectivity and service along TKC and nine sites were completed in 2020 and were operational. Currently, he said an additional three network sites were deployed and expected to be operational in August 2025. “The new identified sites are in the peripheries of Jwaneng, Kang and Chobokwane villages respectively.

The three additional network sites, would increase network intensity along the corridor close to 95 per cent” said Mr Tshere.

Moreover, he said they had also deployed optional fibre infrastructure that would backhaul mobile services along TKC through Botswana Fibre network (BoFinet).

The minister said it would connect Lobatse, Kanye, Jwaneng, Sekoma, Kang and Ghanzi Junction 44, Kalkfontein and Charles hill.

On other issues, he said last year, following a high-level bilateral engagement between Botswana and Namibia roaming charges were reduced.

The roaming tariffs which came into effect August 2024 depicted substantial reduction ranging from 17 per cent on the lower end for receiving a call per minute to 97 per cent for the same type of a call between networks.

The development was expected to encourage more trade and cross-border communication, cementing economic and societal relations between the two countries.

Mr Tshere added that as part of the commitment to making TKC a smart corridor, there was commitment to ensure increased usage of advanced technologies to facilitate the economic and administrative activities along the corridor. ENDS