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.
Telecommunications in Botswana
2021
Full Report
R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $101.31 (USD)*
Industry Landscape
R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 70.92 (USD)*
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 |
