Overview of ICT Initiatives and Services in Botswana

Connecting Communities

On account of connecting communities (demand driven information relevant to the needs and conditions of the local people) in rural, remote and urban communities with affordable and accessible computer and Internet services, 197 communities have been identified for the program. The communities are serviced under the fast tracked telecommunication project called NTELETSA II. The aim of the project is to supply, install commission, and carry out operation and maintenance of network infrastructure in rural areas of Botswana.

The communities are grouped using 'Logical Zones' as a telecommunication deployment network. Logical zones were developed by grouping communities together based on geography and population. The logical zones have further been divided into regional networks or "underserved areas" to provide an economy of scale; the larger the area the greater the business that will allow operators to prosper and grow. This consolidation of logical zones resulted in the creation of 4 underserved areas. To this end, three mobile telephone service providers; Mascom, Orange and Botswana Telecommunications Cooperation [beMobile] have been awarded tenders in the four underserved areas (regional networks). The awards will be concluded as soon as Network Infrastructure contracts are complete.

Kitsong Centers

The Rural Telecommunications Programme targets provision of essential infrastructure services in rural areas. This is part of government's obligation to integrate people into the economic and social development of the nation. The services include Internet lines, and telephones, and in 2006/7 Community Access Centers (CAC) were initiated. The CAC serve as gate-way covered to the Internet and access to other services in the rural areas. The Community Access Centers (CAC) code-named Kitsong Centers are located in the following areas; Letlhakeng in the western part of the country to provide services to areas in the proximity of Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve and areas on the fringes of the rural Kweneng region. The CAC at Hukuntsi will serve the areas within the Kgalagadi areas. Gumare in the north will serve areas around the Okavango and the entire northern part of the country. At the moment 35 centers across the country are functional and an additional 25 centers are being set up.

In a nutshell all CAC will provide access to a range of on-line information including: local and community information, business information services, government information and services such as school registration, birth certificates, livestock tracking and passport applications.

While this may be ambitious, already several programs are 'hatching'. Recently the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology launched a project known as i-Partnership. This is a computer ownership project for government employees and unemployed youth to buy computers using government scheme. Employees are encouraged to buy computers at reduced cost to be able to take work home or 'work from home'. Several applications for the scheme have been processed. There is also a website which is operational for applicants to use to access the service.

Thuto Net

The Thuto Net program is an expansive project that incorporates Schools Connectivity Initiative, to link all secondary schools to the Internet. At the moment 104 secondary schools through out the country have access to the Internet and the program is rolling out to other secondary schools.

All secondary schools in Botswana have computer laboratories comprising about 15-20 computers. This initiative is aimed at reducing literacy gaps between students in urban schools and rural schools. To fast track the program, the department responsible for laying out the infrastructure is working together with the Department of Education to train teachers on using ICT as a classroom tool.

A similar initiative will be rolled out to primary schools through a program of refurbishing computers used in government departments with appropriate programs for primary schools. This initiative is believed to provide opportunities for private sector to ensure support and maintenance of the equipment.

Government-On-Line

The Government of Botswana is undertaking major service delivery reform programmes aimed at improving service quality. To date government web portal with information and e-services is being developed. The portal designed will be customer focused making the organizational structure of government more transparent to citizens and business. E-Government represents a radically new way for government to interact with its constituents, clients and partners. The portal extends the "reach" of government and provides everyone with access to information and services, from virtually any location and at any time [NICT Policy 2007]. In addition, all government services that are appropriate for on-line delivery will be available over the Internet. Already driver's licenses are accessible at all government Road Transport Offices and Depot across the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture has developed a Livestock Identification and Trace-back System to maintain a record of all the cattle in the country, and also track the exposure level of each animal to contagious diseases. The system uses data from other Government department like the National citizen identification system for identifying cattle owners.

International Connectivity

Under this framework, several projects aimed at positioning Botswana as regional ICT hub are undertaken. Through the Pan African e-Network project 53 African countries will be connected as one network through satellite and fibre optic links for providing electronic and knowledge connectivity to the African nations. The network will primarily provide effective communication and connectivity among nations in the loop. It will also provide tele-education, tele-medicine and VVIP service. The project will inter-connect 11 Universities, 53 Learning Centers, 11 Super Specialty Hospitals and 53 Remote Hospitals in the membership of the e-Network project.

Botswana has identified 3 Very Small Aperture Terminals [Vsat] Sites comprising a Tele-Education Centre (learning Centre) at the University of Botswana, a Tele-medicine Centre (Patient-end-terminal) at the only referral hospital (Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in the North part of the country and a VVIP Location at the Office of the President.

Within our neighbourhood there are two diversified fibre links to South Africa. There are also radio links to Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Further a-field there are direct Satellite links to UK [BT, Cable and Wireless], US [AT&T, Sprint] and Canada [Tele-globe]. There is also direct connectivity to London through SAT3 undersea cable.

The Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology's quest to improve ICT is further indicated by the signing of agreements with other countries around the globe. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Governments of Botswana spurring the establishment of a National Project Steering Committee. The committee comprises members from the Office of President, Ministries of Communication, Science and Technology, Education, and Health. Other members come from Botswana Defense Force and Police Services.

In the penultimate, the Government of India represented by TCIL inspected and conducted site survey of the three Vsat sites and concluded they were all technically ready and about 90% of the equipment has arrived.

Botswana Innovation Hub [BIH]

Botswana Innovation Hub comes at a time when Botswana's ICT infrastructure is fast developing. Botswana Innovation Hub is responsible for stimulating start-ups and providing enabling environment for investors. Technology driven and knowledge intensive industry, researchers, higher education and the ICT industry, are provided forum to interact together to foster innovation and new business. The success of these projects depends on good infrastructure.

The innovation hub has proposed sectors through which businesses, research and training could be explored. These areas include Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Bio-Technology, Energy and Mineral Technology. At the time of the report details of qualifying criteria for registration were on-going and will be ready by September 2008 [Technopolis Plc 2008]. On a more positive note, the BIH have secured land (approximately 57 hectors of land) to be used for the project. The hub will offer services in the form of office space, land and state of the art telecommunications services.

Botswana has invested in fibre-optic networks locally and international in high capacity systems thereby making communication infrastructure one of the best in the continent. These include;

NEPAD-led Undersea Cable

In essence, the project is aimed at providing Botswana with the much needed international connectivity at optimal rates. Botswana has not ratified the protocol but Attorney General Chambers (Botswana) is working on ratification of the protocol [Telecommunications TPS Projects Report July 2008].

East African Submarine System [EASSy]

This is a fibre-optic cable system linking countries on the east coast of Africa. Botswana has signed contract for supply and construction of the cable system. The project is expected to be completed in 2010 [TPS Projects Report July 2008].

WAFS

Similarly West African Festoon System under-sea cable network will be constructed to link countries. Botswana, Angola and Mozambique have signed a Memorandum of Understanding defining the framework structure of operation in the infrastructure [TPS Projects Report, July 2008}.

African West Coast Cable (AWCC)

Licensed operators from the respective coastal countries have formed consortium to implement the project. Telecom Namibia has invited Botswana Telecommunications Cooperation to participate.

e-Health Initiatives

Several e-health activities taking place in Botswana include the following;

- installation of local area network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) in 22 facilities

- Integrated Patient Management System (IPMS) at four sites that are strategically identified including the only referral hospital

- Warehouse Management System (WMS) at Central Medical Stores to manage the procurement and distribution of drug supply

- MASA system in some hospitals and clinics to manage HIV/AIDS patient information where IPMS has not been implemented

- Blood management System (BMS) in the two cities to manage inventory and distribution of blood

- Website for the Ministry Head-Quarters to inform the public on the objectives and performance of the ministry

- The health Professionals Registration System which will maintain a database of all health practitioners and professionals in the country

- Tele-medicine using radiology between distant hospitals with the main hospital in the city which will facilitate online services to low level facilities

- District Health Information System to provide aggregated health information from health districts

- Library Management System for Institutes of health Science (IHS) and provision of Internet services to students.