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BTA's Origins
Since its independence in 1966, Botswana has encouraged private
sector provision of goods and services and this led Botswana to
liberalise telecommunications. The separation of Posts and Telecom
occurred in 1980 with the formation of Botswana
Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), which is state-owned.
Sector
Overview
The Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), is an independent
regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry. It was
established in December 1996, under the Telecommunications Act,
(No. 15 of 1996). The BTA is vested with authority to regulate and
supervise all aspects of telecommunication common carriers and service
providers that fall under its jurisdiction.
Vision
"To
be the leading world-class communications regulator"
Mission
Statement
To
create and sustain an effective communications regulatory environment
to the satisfaction of its stakeholders.
Consumer
Interest in Focus
In order to effectively handle issues relating to compliance, enforcement
and consumer protection, the Authority has had to create the department
of Compliance and Consumer Affairs.
BTA
Core Purpose
To
create a transparent enabling regulatory environment for service
providers to deliver quality and affordable communications in Botswana
- Managing
the frequency spectrum;
- resolving
industry disputes;
- setting
industry standards;
- setting
tariff principles and appropriate guidelines;
- acting
as responsible, accountable referee in industry to facilitate
investment and universal service; and
- facilitating
and promoting an environment that ensures protection of end-users.
To
ensure compliance with the communication service regulatory framework
through the management and monitoring of.
- service
quality;
- customer
satisfaction levels;
- broadcast
content;
- the
frequency spectrum; and
- terms
and licence conditions.
To
research communications regulation, best practice communications
services and industry performance so as to;
- advice
government on policy formulation;
- establish
communications regulatory policies; and
- inform
industry and consumers.
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To promote and encourage efficient communication servicess so
as to attract investment
- To
promote capacity building within communications industry
- To
represent Botswana interest in the Internationa communications
arena and communications issues.
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The
Chief Executive of the BTA reports to the Ministry of
Communications, Science and Technology (MCST).
In
February 1998 BTA licensed two GSM cellular operators (Mascom
Wireless and Orange
Botswana (previously Vista Cellular), and in 1999 BTA
licensed the first private commercial radio broadcasters (Yarona
and Gabz FM).
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Responsibilities
The
main responsibilities of BTA, as set out in the Telecommunications
Act of 1996 can be grouped into seven broad functions:
- Promotion
of provision of telecommunication services throughout Botswana
- this is intended to ensure universal access to telecommunication
services throughout the country;
- Licensing
and type approval - the Authority is the licensing body
for telecommunications services, networks and radio frequency
users. To ensure the integrity of the public network, the
Authority type approves terminal equipment that are connected
to the public network;
- Consumers
and Users Protection - BTA has to ensure that the interests
of consumers, purchasers, and other users of telecommunication
services are promoted as regards prices, quality and variety
of services and equipment
- Frequency
Management
- the Authority is charged with the responsibility of establishing
and maintaining a radio frequency plan and promulgation
of appropriate regulations and standards to ensure the efficient
use of the spectrum, which is a scarce national resource.
- Price
Control - the Authority approves tariffs for fixed and
cellular telephone service operators. This is one aspect
of protection of consumers in that, while ensuring that
investors make a reasonable return on investment BTA has
an important obligation to ensure that users are not charged
unreasonably high tariffs;
- Promotion
and Maintenance of Competition
- the Authority promotes competition by, among other means,
licensing suppliers of telecommunications services and equipment.
Detailed competition rules, designed to discourage anti-competitive
behaviour on the part of telecommunications operators and
suppliers which the Authority must enforce are found in
section 48 of the Act; and
- Settlement
of Disputes - as a quasi - judicial body, BTA settles
disputes between users and telecommunications' operators
and disputes between, and amongst, operators.
In addition to its statutory functions listed above the
Authority is also an advisor to government on general
telecommunications policy. BTA also acts as the Botswana
Government's representative in regional and international
bodies that deal with telecommunications in general and
telecommunications regulation in particular
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