Messaging Infrastructure and Internet Service (16)
The preponderance of the users of the internet in Botswana access the internet through internet cafes. The level of use of the internet and messaging software (groupware and collaboration software and instant messaging) in homes is small. The number of internet subscribers in the country is about 20000 users(src) with an average bandwidth of 14Kbps. The graph below shows a comparison of the country's outgoing bandwith rate compared to a number of other countries on the continent:
Fig: Internet Subscribers by Country (Data Source: 15)
Botswana has 10 licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) providing a complete range of services to customers.
- AME Enterprises
- Botsnet (BTC)
- Logical Botswana
- Mega Internet
- 4Site
- Pan African Communications Network (PACONET)
- Romela Internet
- USKO
- UUNET
There are also six licensed international data gateway service providers:
- Vista Cellular
- AME Enterprises
- UUNET
- Integrated Digital Networks
- AfriSwitch
- Pan African Communications Networks
- Transtel
- SITA
Network Infrastructure and Bandwidth(23)
There are 5 points of presence (POP) located in Gaborone, Francistown, Lobatse, Maun and Selebi Phikwe(src). These POPs allow coverage over the whole country through a virtual POP system. The entire network is all based on ISDN with features such as tunneling that allows secure authentication of ISP users to the provider network. With tunnelling, companies can protect user identities from compromise at physical and virtual POPs. Access to the POPs is usually over the PSTN network from user systems, therefore speeds are limited to about 64Kbps. The ISDN network offers connections ranging from 64Kbps up to 2Mbps within the virtual circuits connecting the POPs.
Fixed Line Infrastructure
Fixed lines number in the 150000 range. UUNET Botswana (Pty) Ltd, VISTA and MASCOM all have licenses to supply voice and data services to the local population.
Mobile Telephone Infrastructure
The two mobile companies in Botswana provide a sum total of mobile phone service in Botswana. The system is a GSM system operating at 900Mhz(MASCOM,Vista). The fixed line to mobile density is about 2:1. The number of mobile users in Botswana is about 278000, about twice the count of fixed line users. Primary use of mobile telephones is for regular personal and business calling purposes. SMS is particularly popular and commonly used as a means of communicating. A study of Botswana's regulatory environment (Effective Regulation: Case Study: Botswana 2001, ITU) reports that Vista handle about 20000 SMS messages per day.
Ownership Structure of the Mobile providers(16)
The table below indicates the ownership structure of the various service providers
| |
MASCOM |
VISTA |
BTC |
| Licensed |
17 February 1998 for 15 years |
27 February 1998 for 15 years |
Incumbent |
| Ownership |
- Portugal Telecom
- T.S. Masiyiwa
Holdings of Zimbabwe
- DECI Investments
comprised of Botswana citizen shareholders.
|
- 49%
by Orange SA,
- 46%Mosokelatsebeng
Cellular, a company owned by Botswana citizen
- 5% by another citizen
individual.
|
100% Government Owned |
The table below is a sampling of mobile rates from different carriers(10)
Vista Cellular
| Package |
Vista |
BTC/Mascom |
| Diamond |
Peak |
Off Peak |
Peak |
Off Peak |
| Diamond |
P0.90 |
P0.55 |
P1.10 |
P0.70 |
| Ruby |
P1.00 |
P0.55 |
P1.25 |
P0.70 |
| Sapphire |
P1.30 |
P0.45 |
P2.25 |
P0.70 |
MASCOM had the following mobile rates
MASCOM Cellular Rates
| |
Consumer |
Business |
| |
Peak |
Off-Peak |
Off-Off-Peak |
Peak |
Off-Peak |
Off-Off-peak |
| Mobile to Other |
P0.55 |
P0.55 |
P0.45 |
P1.20 |
P0.55 |
P0.45 |
| Mobile to Mobile |
P1.30 |
P0.55 |
P0.45 |
P0.96 |
P0.55 |
P0.45 |
Business Services (10)
A range of different technology and business services are offered by the BTC and other technology companies in Bostwana. Amonst them are:
- BTC's ISDN Primary Rate Access offering provides up to 30 individual 64Kbps connections for a combined total of 2Mbps of bandwidth.
- The cellular operators offer special business rates for all wireless services.
- A call center in Gaborone called Orinoco, has about 18 agents and handles customer service support services to businesses in the country. Orinoco is an advanced call center using Interactive Voice Response (IVR), CRM software, and Automatic Call Distribution to agents.
- Voice over IP is NOT permitted in Botswana by the BTA primarily because "the Quality of Service (QoS) is not yet proven" (Effective Regulation: Case Studies Botswana 2001)
