BTA Management BTA Background
OFFICIAL OPENING OF BTA BUILDING BY YOSHIO UTSUMI-SECRETARY GENERAL OF ITU
BTA Offices 206/7 Indepedenec Avenue Gaborone, opened on 29/8/2002 by ITU Secretary General Yoshiu Utsumi
H.E. President of Botswana, Mr. F.G Mogae (Left), Minister of Works Transport and Communication Hon. Tebelelo Seretse (Middle) and The ITU Secretary General Mr. Yushio Utsumi at the Official Opening of BTA office 29 August 2002
Speech by ITU Secretary General, Mr. Y. Utsumi on Official Opening
Speech by Executive Chairman of BTA, Mr. C.M Lekaukau,s Speech on the Official Opening
Botswana Advised not to lag behind - by ITU Secretary General
.Botswana has been advised not to lag behind in the quest by countries to transform themselves into information-oriented economies. "The transformation will be every bit as profound as the movement from agrarian to industrial societies," Yoshio Otsumi, secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), warned on Thursday 29 August 2002. Speaking at the opening of the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) building and the celebration of the fifth anniversary, Yoshio said in the past, such changes have led to winners and losers. "Some countries have prospered while others have fallen behind. "It could happen once again and, if we do not take any action now, existing gaps may be widened," Yoshio said, adding that there are already success stories showing how to make the best use of information and communications technologies for development. The success stories include the software industry of Israel or Bangalore in India; the Asian hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore, or Peru. "I wish Botswana would be listed as a good example," he added. He said one example of a win-win situation might be to establish a competitive market for information and communication technologies. It will create new business opportunities for the developed world to sell their products and services and enable the developing countries to jump ahead to an information-oriented economy. "Therefore, the creation of a competitive market for information and communications technologies should be pursued as a global strategy." Yoshio described the BTA as a good regulator which has all the prerequisites for a competitive market. He said Botswana's priority has been to improve the level and quality of basic telecommunication services provided to its citizens and has worked hard toward that priority. The country has recorded more than 18 per cent growth rate in the telecommunications sector. He said Botswana the needs to extend the benefits of information and telecommunication technology to every citizen in the world; to bridge the digital divide and turn it into a digital opportunity.
BTA's level of independence and effectiveness may develop as a world model - Yoshio Utsumi
Mr Utsumi congratulated BTA on its commitment to improving the level and quality of basic telecommunication services in Botswana. "It has worked hard towards that priority, so much so that more than 10% of the population now has access to fixed-line service and 16% of the population subscribes to one of the mobile cellular operator's services." He cited BTA's 'lean organizational structure' and its initial decisions on the level of competition to be authorised in Botswana as "particularly valuable to small countries with fairly limited resources and low levels of telecommunication penetration."The commitment and leadership of BTA management to the Telecommunication Regulatory Association of Southern Africa (TRASA) was also commended, as well as its partnership with ITU in organizing the first African Telecommunications Regulators Forum. "It was a great success." The creation of an African Telecommunications Regulators Network and West African Telecommunications Regulators Association were two of the positive results of the Forum.Mr Utsumi took the opportunity to remind the audience "that while it is quite obvious that people cannot live on information alone, humanity is now entering an age where information-oriented activities are a major part of GDP. Information is a key to competitive advantage both for businesses and modern states." He added that it was up to world leaders to shape the direction of the Information Society and to create a global strategy to create a win-win situation.
BTA licenses 11 internet service providers - Lekaukau -29/8/2002
Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) has licensed 11 Internet service providers and six international date gateway licensees. "The action has had a great effect on the level of Internet penetration in Botswana," says Moses Lekaukau Executive Chairman of the BTA, adding that "today we estimate that around 40 000 Batswana have Internet access." Speaking at the official opening of Botswana Telecommunications Authority Building, Lekaukau said they have been engaged in institutional capacity building and are now aiming to guide the telecommunications industry. The executive chairman, however, said they have not started to promulgate guidelines that will govern the different areas of the telecommunications sector, as they have been concentrating on capacity building since they were established last five years. Lekaukau said the BTA is also strengthening its consumer monitoring alertness, and that they will acquire a spectrum monitoring equipment next year to mitigate against the present interference among frequencies. The executive chairman said the most important challenge facing them is to bridge the digital divide and ensure that information and communication technologies benefit every Motswana wherever he or she is. He said they are developing a universal service and access strategy that will bridge the gap in the provision of information and communication services between cities and rural areas as well as between the poor and the rich in Botswana. Lekaukau said the BTA has granted a licence for fix line voice services and 15-year licences to Mascom Wireless and Vista Cellular. Furthermore, the BTA has licensed two commercial radio stations. However, the authority has handed over its licensing powers to the National Broadcasting Board. Lekaukau said as a result of sector reform programmes, Botswana telecommunications customer base has taken a quantum leap with the number of fixed lines more than doubling from 59 673 in 1996 to 144 142 at the end of July 2002.