BTC continues to drive Transformation in Communities, Empowering Lives

BTC continues to drive Transformation in Communities, Empowering Lives

Technological innovations enable widespread service delivery, which empower societies and, as a result, improve their quality of life. As we continue through our journey to be the anchor of digital transformation??we have invested a lot of capital to modernize our network, as a way of bridging the gap??of the digital divide and advancing socio-economic developments in many developing communities. This aligns with our purpose that we exist to empower Batswana to LIVE CONNECTED and progress their lives.?

With over 40 years in existence as Botswana’s 1st?telecommunications corporation, we continuously invest in our networks to offer our customers the widest coverage, fastest speeds, and the best network quality, whilst making our services more affordable, innovative, and accommodative capacity wise.?Data demand for mobile communication services has propelled BTC to grow its network and base stations thus largely influencing our?network modernization strategy which has now deployed over 500 4.5G sites nationwide since 2017 resulting in BTC’s 4.5G mobile network being the best in the country both in terms of coverage footprint and download speed. Through this deployment of our 4.5G /LTE (‘Fourth Generation – Long Term Evolution’), substantial performance improvements have spread to all parts of Botswana as part of our community transformation plan that offers the promise that connectivity will no longer be a barrier to realizing the benefits of enterprise and consumer mobility.?

The progress and distribution of mobile services are now far more apparent and visible in this new era of digital business and as we expand our footprint at BTC through our large base stations spread countrywide, key monuments that bring value continue to drive our purpose in socio-economic community development. Highlights of our socio-economic ambitions have been efficient not only through our team but Strategic partnerships with stakeholders such BOCRA, their mandate to support digital inclusion in support of??Government’s efforts of providing of mobile broadband network services to remote corners of the country through Universal Access and??Service Fund (USAF) project has enabled areas such North West and Ghanzi to have 4.5G sites.?

BTC’s blueprint from this project synergizes our purpose of technological transformation connecting communities to empower their ambitions and our presence in both the Ghanzi and North West region has enabled us under our Mobile Broadband project – expand 4.5G LTE and to enable BTC to extend innovative solutions to this regions. The current partnership with BOCRA through UASF project enabled BTC to roll-out more than 22 sites in the North West - to locations such as Khwai, Mababe, Sankoyo, Kauxwi, Xakao, Samochima, Etsha6, Nxamasera, Sekondomboro, Komana, Shorobe, Beetsha, Gunotsoga,Ngarange, Ikoga, Mogotlho, Matsaudi, Nxaraga, Semboyo, Makakung, Somelo and Botlhatlogo. The roll-out of these 22 sites was completed before December 2022 and within the shortest period BTC experienced a surge of data traffic within some of the areas.?

The 4.5G network enables all customers within the areas to access data services through their mobile gadget, internet modems and routers- with this customers can browse the internet, download content, stream and do more. BTC offers include services such as FastConnect, TurnUp volume based bundles, Live Social Bundles, content such as Classmate (E-Learning content), video based offers (DStv & Showmax, Deezer) , gaming and more. Through our shop in the area and our mobile truck, we will be giving customers options to also have 4G devices that cater for their needs whether its entry 4.5G device, medium cost, or high-end device. We want our customers to experience the quality of our 4.5G network. Its important that customers get access of the 4.5G handsets and a BTC Mobile Simcard to be able to enjoy the experience of 4.5G.?

Over and above this, BTC takes pride in not only empowering people but the community developments we continue to see which include;

·???????Enhanced Tourism?experience particularly around the Khwai village surrounded by nomadic communities and landmarks like Moremi and lodges – Our 4.5G connectivity initiatives have enabled enhanced experiences and profiling national monuments connecting Botswana to the world

·???????Economic benefits to the?education system?– One of our core mandates at BTC was to serve this sector efficiently and with enhanced 4.5G experiences schools in the Ghanzi and Northwest region continue to benefit from advancements online with???E-Learning solutions and classmate that have bridged the gap of normalcy in education despite any unforeseen circumstances

·???????Creation of?employment?on an annual basis as BTC has continued to serve this region and with every deployment or upgrade requirement being human capital

·???????Supporting the development of?local technical skills

As Batswana,?We ALL need solutions where the people who use the Internet are also empowered to build it and this is the partnership we continue to craft and mold at BTC and have benefited greatly from our collaboration with Regulation authority BOCRA who have enabled BTC to execute to their specification???and deliver efficiently services to the Northwest region.?At BTC, we continue to look ahead into uncharted digital territory, collaborations with communities, private and public sector partners that are similarly committed to transforming lives through digital and expanded 4.5G networks that bring the necessary reliability to innovate communities.?

Through these collaborations we intend to continue on transforming and empowering our communities and Batswana to reach their ambitions, this will assist greatly in digital diversity?– thus stamping our purpose to empower them to Live Connected.???