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telecommunications botswana

Telecommunications in Botswana 2021

Charles Chinya | Botswana | 29 July 2021

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Report Coverage

This report focuses on Botswana’s fixed and mobile telephones, internet and broadband and the infrastructure that supports them. There are profiles of 23 companies including government-owned Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet), a wholesaler provider of national and international telecoms infrastructure and other major players such as Mascom Wireless and Orange. Other companies profiled include network operator Liquid Telecommunications and internet service provider Microteck.

Introduction

This report focuses on Botswana’s fixed and mobile telephones, internet and broadband and the infrastructure that supports them. Botswana has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa with a tele-density of over 160 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. After a period of stagnation, the number of internet users has risen strongly, largely as result of lower prices. Statistics Botswana 2020 figures show that ICT contributed P10.5bn (pula) (US$973.8m) or 5.8% of GDP at current prices in 2020, while in Q4 2020 the sector contributed P2.72bn (US$251.4m) or 5.6% of GDP. Role players said the sector’s strong performance during lockdowns and restrictions is attributed to high demand for data services and internet connectivity from all sectors of the economy. Botswana’s government identified the ICT industry as an engine of economic growth and catalyst to develop a knowledge-based economy and has identified infrastructure development for the provision of equitable connectivity.

Strengths

• A liberalised telecom industry
• Good spectrum management.
• Government support of ICT industry..
• High number of mobile subscribers.
• Unified Licensing Model reduces regulatory burden by having a simplified licensing structure and allowing operators to adopt best-use-technologies.

Weaknesses

• Foreign exchange fluctuations.
• Frequent power cuts (especially during the rainy season).
• High advertising costs.
• High electricity tariffs.
• Rural areas underdeveloped, with no electricity connectivity.
• Shortage of ICT skilled personnel.
• Slow allocation of land for base stations and other infrastructure developments.
• Small and sparsely populated population.

Opportunities

•  Operators or ISPs can lease the use of network systems from other local players.
• .
• Expansion of fibre networks.
• Fibre to business and home connections will increase internet demand.
• Growth of mobile money platforms will result in increase of subscriptions, data, and internet connectivity
• High mobile penetration rates and subscriptions offer opportunities for innovative companies to enter the market.

Threats

• Currency exchange vulnerability.
• Cyber security.
• Electricity supply constraints.
• Increasing theft of solar panels and vandalism of base stations.
• Potential network equipment price increases.
• Slow economic growth caused by unexpected disasters can lower customer spending

Outlook

According to African Development Bank, Botswana’s GDP growth is projected to recover to 7.5% in 2021 based on a revival in domestic demand as the effects of the pandemic recede. Given Botswana’s small population, significant growth in the ICT Industry is not expected. However, key players in the industry see room for growth in data-centric products, mobile broadband, smartphones, 4G network and fibre optic cable rollouts across the country as ICT sector becomes more advanced. Fitch Solutions forecasts that by end of 2021 there will be around 28,000 residential and commercial fibre connections, rising to around 181,000 by 2030.

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Telecommunications in Botswana
Telecommunications in Botswana 2021

Full Report

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $108.48 (USD)*

Industry Landscape

R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 75.94 (USD)*

Table of Contents

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PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. COUNTRY INFORMATION 1
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 2
3.1 Industry Value Chain 8
3.2. Geographic Position 9
4. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY 9
5. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 13
5.1. Local 13
5.1.1. Corporate Actions 17
5.1.2. Regulations 18
5.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development 19
5.2. Continental 20
5.3. International 26
6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 29
6.1. Coronavirus 29
6.2. Economic Environment 30
6.3. Rising Costs 30
6.4. Frequency Spectrum Management 31
6.5. Technology, Research, Development, and Innovation 31
6.6. Government Incentives and Support 31
6.7. Environmental Concerns 34
6.8. Cyclicality 34
6.9. Crime and Safety 34
6.10. Labour 34
7. COMPETITION 35
7.1. Barriers to Entry 35
8. SWOT ANALYSIS 36
9. OUTLOOK 37
10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 37
11. REFERENCES 38
11.1. Publications 38
11.2. Websites 38
COMPANY PROFILES - TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT 43
3G MOBILE (BOTSWANA) (PTY) LTD 43
ALTRON BOTSWANA (PTY) LTD 45
BOTSWANA FIBRE NETWORKS (PTY) LTD 47
BOTSWANA POSTAL SERVICES LTD 49
BROADBAND BOTSWANA INTERNET 51
GLOBAL BROADBAND SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 52
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES (BOTSWANA) (PTY) LTD 54
INQ.DIGITAL (PTY) LTD 56
MASCOM WIRELESS BOTSWANA (PTY) LTD 57
MICROTECK ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD 60
OPQ NET (PTY) LTD 62
PARATUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS (PTY) LTD 64
COMPANY PROFILES - COMPUTER SERVICES AND RELATED EQUIPMENT 65
3GMOBILE (BOTSWANA) (PTY) LTD 65
BOTSWANA FIBRE NETWORKS (PTY) LTD 67
BROADBAND BOTSWANA INTERNET 69
GLOBAL BROADBAND SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 70
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES (BOTSWANA) (PTY) LTD 72
LIQUID TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOTSWANA (PTY) LTD 74
MASCOM WIRELESS BOTSWANA (PTY) LTD 76
MICROTECK ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD 79
ORANGE BOTSWANA (PTY) LTD 81
PARATUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS (PTY) LTD 83
SKY-CELL CONNECT (PTY) LTD 84