ICT PITSO SECTOR UPDATES
PRESENTER: NATIONAL ICT COORDINATOR
VENUE: GICC - GABORONE
10TH SEPTEMBER 2012
The information contained in this document is confidential, for internal use only, and may not be
distributed outside Ministry of Transport and Communications
Contents
GENERAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMES
 MAITLAMO ICT POLICY
 E-GOVERNMENT UPDATE
 INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY UPDATE
 NTELETSA II
 BTC PRIVATISATION AND SEPARATION
 BOTSWANA SAVINGS BANK/ BOTSWANAPOST MERGER
 BTA/NBB MERGER
 Digital Television Standard
REGULATORY INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMES
 Implementation of Regulatory Directive No 1 of 2011
 Reduced Botsgate Prices
 Mobile Number Portability
 Regulatory Impact Assessment on National Roaming
 Trials of Long Term Evolution (4G LTE)
 Country Code Top Level Domain Name System (ccTLD)
CONCLUSION
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MAITLAMO ICT POLICY
Activity
Output
Status
ICT PLAN
• An updated
• Working with BOCCIM to develop the
Maitlamo ICT
priority plan and will be followed by
Plan with set
development of a detailed one. ICT
of priorities
Coordinator appointment.
MAITLAMO ICT Fully functional
STRUCTURES structures
Structures for other Maitlamo pillars eEducation, e-Health, e-Commerce being
established with lead Ministries.
MAITLAMO ICT Budget that
BUDGET
covers all
NDP10 Review developed to cover all
Maitlamo ICT
seven Maitlamo pillars under the ICT
Pillars
technical sub-committee under the
Economy and Employment TWG
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E-GOVERNMENT UPDATE
Activity
Output
Status
E-GOV
Clear strategic
STRATEGY direction and
AND PLAN implementation
plan
• Strategy and plan approved by Cabinet
together with budget starting 2013/2014
• Strategy to be launched on the 10th
September 2012.
BUDGET
Commitment made by Cabinet and NDP10
Review has e-Government as priority.
Commitment on
funding the eGovernment
programme
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E-GOVERNMENT UPDATE
Activity
Output
Connectivity • Faster
to
network
Government
connection to
Front
offices
Offices(band • Improved
width etc)
response
time.
Status
• Some Border Posts, Omang, DRTS,
Health Centers, LAC, RAC offices
upgraded to minimum of 1 Mbs per site.
Target is to have all front-offices
upgraded to minimum 1Mbits.
• 65/92 Offices in Gaborone and
Francistown upgraded to fiber at
minimum speed of 4Mbs
• Target is to connect 143 sites this
financial year.
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E-GOVERNMENT UPDATE (Cont)
Activity
Output
Provision of On line services
services
online
Status
• SMS notifications are currently being
offered for 6 services
• Name Search from Register of
Companies
• 6 download and print services are online
• 69 Information only services are online
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E-Government Update (Cont)
Activity
Output
e-Legislation Robust and
(Jan 2010 – enabling cyber
Dec
friendly legislation
2012)
Status
• Electronic Transaction Bill, Data
Protection) being drafted for
Nov/Dec Parliamentary session.
• Cabinet has approved the review
of Cyber Crime Act. Consultations
ongoing
Government Enhanced portal
• Government Portal being
Portal and
capable of providing enhanced (look and feel) and
Agency
services online
loaded with services as per the eWebsites
Services list.
Standardized
agency websites
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E-Government Update (Cont)
Activity
Output
Status
Sesigo
Libraries with
31 out of 78 libraries have
computers and
been connected with free
internet
internet for public.
16 more libraries to be
connected in 2012/2013.
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Broadband Update
Activity
Broadband
Strategy
(May 2012
– Aug
2013)
Output
Guidelines and
standards for
network
connection to
businesses,
public facilities,
and homes
Status
• Strategy development
underway, contract has been
signed in May 2012 and
expected to run for fourteen
(14) months
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Implications of e-Government Developments
■ Delivery of enhanced government services,
prompt response to customer needs
■ More services accessible online.
■ Enhanced access networks required
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INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY UPDATE
Activity
Output
Status
WACS
Available
Launched on the 26th June at
Launch
services
Swakopmund, Namibia. Being lunched
on the 11th September 2012 in Botswana.
• A total of 16 STM-1s out of the more
Activated Cheaper
capacity International than 80 STM-1s
bandwidth
• Wholesale
international
Internet
bandwidth tariffs reduction
• Efforts are on-going to ensure these
reductions are reflected on retail prices.
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International Connectivity Update
Implications
■ Plans on how to utilise these acquired capacity
■ Innovative ideas
■ Transforming Botswana economy
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NTELETSA II PROGRAMME
Activity
Output
Supply,
Mobile
installation,
telephony
commissioning,
services and
operations and
Kitsong
maintenance of
Centres
works and
services in 197
communities in
Areas 1, 2, 3 and
4
Status
• Complete in the four designated areas.
• 197 villages which includes some border
posts
• Essentially all services within the scope of
the project have been delivered.
• Small part of the Maun-Ngoma Bridge
radio link remaining
• Each community with Kitsong Centre
except a few: one-stop shop (air time
and SIM cards, access internet, fax,
secretarial services and phone charging).
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BTC PRIVATISATION AND SEPARATION
Activity
Output
Status
Privatisation • BTC Ltd
 Board appointed and registration
and
Ongoing
Separation
• Shares (IPO)
 Separation model decided
• Infrastructure
Company
 SPV Board and Acting Chief
Executive, Registration ongoing
Separation Model
• All the local and national access dark fibre systems (without active
equipment) that includes the Trans-Kgalagadi Optical Fibre, the metropolitan
fibre loops, the Francistown-Gaborone fibre loop and all other dark fibre
systems;
• newly deployed Dense Wave Division Multiplex (DWDM) system and active
electronic equipment and the associated assets;
• own and operate the East Africa Sea System (EASSY) and the West Africa
Cable System (WACS) and rights that include the terrestrial backhaul links
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Implications
■ Privatisation
schedule.
and
separation
work
plan
and
■ Access to fibre and other services on same terms
■ Facility Based
services only)
Operator
licence
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(wholesale
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CONVERGED COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (CRA) BILL
Activity
Output
Drafting and
• New law
Approval of
legislation
• New Authority

CRA Bill

Botswana
Postal
Amendment Bill

Broadcasting
Repeal Bill
Status
All 3 Bills(CRA , NBB Repeal and
BotswanaPost Ammendment) Passed
June/July sitting and are due to come
into force soon
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BOTSWANA SAVINGS BANK/ BOTSWANAPOST MERGER
Activity
Output
Status
Merging
• Enabling legislation
 Communications
Regulatory
Authority, Botswana Postal
Services (Amendment) Bill and
Botswana Savings Bank Bill
passed in Parliament
• Holding Company
 Holding Company Naming
and establishment of Board of
Directors on-going
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BTA/ NBB MERGER
Activity
Output
Status
Merging
• Enabling legislation
 Communications
Regulatory
Authority, Botswana Postal
Services (Amendment) Bill and
Botswana Savings Bank Bill
passed in Parliament
 NBB Repeal
Parliament
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passed
by
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Implications: BSB/POST MERGER
 Implementing the merger through a holding company allows the
subsidiaries to realise cost savings derived from sharing of
support services and result in efficiency in service delivery.
 Approval of the Bills, constitutions and naming will pave way for
concluding registration of the Holding Company
 Completion of the registration of the Holding Company will pave
the way for recruitment of Board of Directors and Executive
Management to oversee the operational mandate of The Holding
Company.
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Purpose of CRA Bill
■ To establish a converged Communications Regulatory
Authority, a regulatory oversight body (Botswana
Communications Regulatory Authority or BOCRA)
■ Telecommunications, broadcasting, postal subsectors and
Information Communications Technology in general
■ Regulating and monitoring the activities of these subsectors
■ NBB & BTA Merging, single Board
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Implications CRA Bill and Botswana Postal Amendment Bill
and Broadcasting Repeal Bill
■ Telecommunications, ICTs, Postal and Broadcasting
sectors are now to be regulated under one law and one
Authority.
■ Secondary legislation yet to be reviewed
■ Review: Consultative process to start
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DIGITAL TELEVISION STANDARD
Activity
ADOPTION
OF
STANDARD
Output
Status
ADOPTION OF
STD AND
 TRIALS
IMPLEMENTATION
OUT
BEING
CARRIED-
 DECISION TO BE MADE BY
END OF 2012/13
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International Forums
■ Ministry & BTA: Participating in a number of international forums at which
various issues pertaining to ICT developments, regulation, policy and
standards: Locally & Internationally
■ Industry stakeholders must also participate and are INVITED especially
international
■ Upcoming events
o Universal Postal Union (UPU) congress will held at Doha from 27
Sept – 15 Oct 2012
o ITU Telecom World, Dubai from 14 -18 October
o World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA 12),
Dubai, from 20 to 29 November
o World Conference on International Telecommunication (WCT 12)
will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 3-14 December
2012 to review the current International Telecommunications
Regulations (ITRs),
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REGULATORY INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMES
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Implementation of Regulatory Directive No 1 of 2011
■ BTA continued to monitor implementation of the Regulatory Directive No
1 of 2011 which sought to reduce tariffs for telecommunications services.
■ Made sure the service providers fully implemented the Directive in order
to make sure that the benefits of reduced wholesale prices trickle down to
the consumers.
■The BTA also provided clarity and resolved sticky points between the
service providers on the interpretation of the Directive.
■The BTA has carried out an impact assessment of the Directive on the
market and the results has indicated positive developments in terms of
increased traffic and increased service uptake.
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Reduced Botsgate Prices
■ BTA approved yet another reduction for the wholesale
International Internet bandwidth provided by BTC.
■ Reduction as direct benefit of the Governments investment
in the EASSy and WACS undersea cables
■ Reduction up to 59%
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Mobile Number Portability
■ BTA Study (April 2012) aimed at assessing the viability or
otherwise of Mobile Number Portability in Botswana.
■ The preliminary report of the study shared with the industry
stakeholders in May 2012
■ Generally the preliminary report indicated that it might not be
viable to introduce Mobile Number Portability in Botswana
given the relatively small market size.
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Regulatory Impact Assessment on National Roaming
■ To conduct Regulatory Impact Assessment on National
Roaming in this financial year.
■ The main reasons for considering national roaming:
o Most rural areas covered by one mobile network:
challenge for mobile customers
o Assess whether it is feasible re-introduce national
roaming in the market, in particular in areas where there
is one operator in remote areas.
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Trials of Long Term Evolution (4G LTE)
■ BTA assigned Mascom and Orange spectrum to conduct
trials for the 4th Generation mobile system.
■ The 4G LTE is a mobile broadband wireless technology
that can deliver very fast data speeds of up to 100Mbps.
■ The trials are expected to last about six months.
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Country Code Top Level Domain Name System (ccTLD)
■ The BTA is continuing with implementation of the ccTLD
systems.
■ The hardware and software systems for running the domain
name systems has been installed at BTA, with a backup
system installed at Francistown.
■ The intention is to run the domain name system installed at
BTA in parallel with the existing one at BTC for a period of
24 months.
■ The development of the domain name policies is still onConfidential. 2012 Ministry of Transport and Communications.
going.
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Future Plans and Initiatives
■ Universal Services and Access Policy
■Universal Services and Access Fund
■ICT Masterplan (Review of the pre2007 plan)
■Establishment of Botswana Communications Regulatory
Authority
■REVIEW OF LICENSING FRAMEWORK(telecomms,
broadcasting, postal, internet)
■Postal Policy
■Roll-out of Digital Television Migration
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Conclusion
■ Cooperation and collaboration cardinal
■ Number of activities upcoming e.g. secondary legislation.
■ Consultations on pieces of e-Legislation
■ Knowledge-based economy: your input cardinal as well
■ ICT contribution to economy needs to grow: can we set
ourselves a target today?
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Thank You
Ke a leboga
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