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The ICT & Telecommunications Industry in Botswana 2023

Charles Chinya | Botswana | 28 July 2023

The Telecommunications Industry in Botswana 2021

Charles Chinya | Botswana | 29 July 2021

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Report Coverage

This report is on the telecoms industry in Botswana, including mobile, fixed telephony, internet and broadband, and the infrastructure that supports them. It includes information on the notable players, corporate actions, and developments in broadband, fibre, mobile and mobile money, There are profiles of 20 companies including state-owned BoFiNet which provides wholesale infrastructure and services to internet service providers, the major players Mascom, BTC and Orange, fibre network providers such as Liquid Telecommunications and Paratus, and retailers such as 3GMobile and Huawei.

The Telecommunications Industry in Botswana

Botswana’s telecoms industry is a catalyst in driving the government’s Vision 2036, and is growing as operators continue to roll out innovative products to cater for increased demand. The sector includes three big operators, Mascom Wireless, Orange Botswana and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), and several internet service providers (ISPs). Internet is largely accessed by individuals through smartphones, while fixed internet services are used by businesses and a small number of households, particularly in urban areas. Mobile money services continue to grow, with the number of subscribers increasing by more than 10% in 2022.

Growth and Development

There are improvements in network efficiency, quality and asset utilisation such as base stations and fibre networks that can leased to operators. There is some leverage of the high mobile penetration rate for mobile health, agriculture, education and ecommerce services. Telecoms infrastructure is being modernised and operators and ISPs are continuing to roll out fibre, wireless deployment and base stations.

Challenges

Telecoms companies face a major challenge as the population is small and sparsely populated, making it difficult for companies to achieve economies of scale to extend services to, and to fully service, remote areas that have few inhabitants and a lack of connectivity. Challenges include poor network performance and inconsistent access to high speed services, battery and cable theft, especially at base stations, and incidents of vandalism. There is also a lack of various technical skills.

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The ICT & Telecommunications Industry in Botswana 2023

Full Report

R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1062.84 (USD)*

Industry Overview

R 14 000.00(ZAR) estimated $ 743.99 (USD)*

Historical Reports

The Telecommunications Industry in Botswana 2021-07-29

R 6 500.00(ZAR) estimated $345.42 (USD)*

View Report Add to Cart

Table of Contents

[ Close ]
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. COUNTRY INFORMATION 1
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 3
3.1. Industry Value Chain 6
3.2. Geographic Position 7
3.3. Size of the Industry 8
4. LOCAL 13
4.1. State of the Industry 13
4.2. Key Trends 15
4.3. Key Issues 15
4.4. Notable Players 16
4.5. Trade 18
4.6. Corporate Actions 19
4.7. Regulations 20
4.8. Enterprise Development and Social Development 20
5. AFRICA 22
6. INTERNATIONAL 26
7. INFLUENCING FACTORS 29
7.1. Unforeseen Events 29
7.2. Economic Environment 29
7.3. Labour 30
7.4. Environmental Issues 31
7.5. Technology, R&D, Innovation 32
7.6. Government Support 32
7.7. Input Costs 33
7.8. Spectrum Management 34
7.9. Cyber Security 34
7.10. Crime and Safety 34
7.11. Cyclicality 35
8. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 35
8.1. Competition 35
8.2. Barriers to Entry 35
9. SWOT ANALYSIS 36
10. OUTLOOK 37
11. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 37
12. REFERENCES 37
12.1. Publications 37
12.2. Websites 38
Appendix 1 - Summary of Notable Players 39
Computer Services and Related Equipment 39
Telecommunications and Related Equipment 41
COMPANY PROFILES 43
3G Mobile (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd 43
Abari Communications (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd 45
Altron Botswana (Pty) Ltd 47
Botswana Fibre Networks (Pty) Ltd 49
Botswana Postal Services Ltd 51
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Ltd 53
Camusat Botswana (Pty) Ltd 56
CENE (Pty) Ltd 58
Croc 684 (Pty) Ltd 59
Desert Road (Pty) Ltd 61
Global Broadband Solutions (Pty) Ltd 63
Huawei Technologies (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd 65
Inq.Digital (Pty) Ltd 67
Liquid Telecommunications Botswana (Pty) Ltd 69
Mascom Wireless Botswana (Pty) Ltd 71
Microteck Enterprises (Pty) Ltd 74
OPQ Net (Pty) Ltd 76
Orange Botswana (Pty) Ltd 78
Paratus Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd 81
Sky - Cell Connect (Pty) Ltd 83

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.

Telecommunications in Botswana

Botswana has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa. However, internet speeds are relatively slow and data costs are high. The sector’s strong performance during lockdown is attributed to high demand for data services and internet connectivity from all sectors of the economy. However, the pandemic is having a significant impact on mobile phones sales in Botswana due to reduced household incomes. Challenges affecting growth of the sector include a lack of broadband infrastructure, low access to electricity, lack of skills and the competitive advantage of international operators over local operators. Most of the big players in Botswana’s telecoms sector are majority foreign-owned, while locally-owned companies are in the internet service provider segment.

Government Plans

The government has identified ICT as the catalyst for the next wave of economic development, and its ICT policy identifies various areas for development. These include the provision of products and services such as e-commerce, social networking and entertainment, wider broadband access and internet connectivity and internet access for schools, libraries, health centres and community, and using the high mobile penetration rate to ensure the availability of government, health, agriculture, education, and e-commerce services on apps.

Growth

Botswana’s telecom services sector revenues are expected to grow, driven by mobile data, cloud computing and fixed broadband. Fixed broadband growth will be supported by expansions and enhancements of fixed broadband networks carried out under the government’s National Broadband Strategy, and rollout of fibre to home infrastructure. But job losses and reduced consumer spending due to the effect of the lockdown on the economy will see consumers spend less on telecoms services and devices.

Read More..
The Telecommunications Industry in Botswana 2021

Full Report

R 6 500.00(ZAR) estimated $345.42 (USD)*

Industry Overview

R 4 550.00(ZAR) estimated $ 241.80 (USD)*

Historical Reports

The ICT & Telecommunications Industry in Botswana 2023-07-28

R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1062.84 (USD)*

View Report Add to Cart

Table of Contents

[ Close ]
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