Internet in Botswana - Botswana Market - Botswana Telecommunications Authority

Internet in Botswana

Internet use in Botswana is very limited, although there are no official numbers. One Internet café owner who reported about 100 to 150 customers per day estimated between 50,000 to 60,000 Internet users in Botswana, including those who access the Internet at work, school or Internet cafés. Only about half of all households have access to electricity, reducing the pool of potential Internet users significantly. The cost of personal computers is also too expensive for most Batswana. A good laptop costs P 20,000, and even low-end personal computers can run between P 6,000 - 7,000. Both are out of range for all but the rich. In addition, bandwidth prices are very high. 512 kilobits/second bandwidth costs P 64,000 a month, the price of a T1 in the U.S.

Although private Internet access is limited, many Batswana have access to the Internet at work or school. Students at the University of Botswana are provided free Internet access. Still, not all primary schools have electricity and some secondary schools operate on generators too weak to run personal computers. Another factor hampering Internet uptake is the lack of indigenous local content. Some entrepreneurs in Botswana appear motivated to rise to this challenge and have called for an Internet development policy.

For the moment, it is very difficult to find a high-speed connection to the Internet in Botswana. Accessing email can be extremely slow, and graphic-laden websites all but impossible. Even BTA had a very slow Internet connection at the time this case study was being prepared. The result is that BTA officials are hampered in their ability to send and receive emails or to use web-based resources. BTA is hopeful that the new international data gateway licensees will soon provide the high-speed connection they have promised so that BTA can move more readily into the new Information Society.

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