BTC Anchors Botswana’s Digital Agenda, Masunga Tells Summit

“Education, tourism and agriculture are some of the critical sectors that benefit immensely from these out of grid specialized products of connectivity,”

said The BTC Board Chairperson Lorato Boakgomo Ntakhwana. Ntakhwana was speaking soon after the conclusion of the Digital transformation summit which was held for the first time in Botswana.

The summit has been a test case for BTC who have been one of the few entities that have been able to piece together a conference during the Covid pandemic.  

Speaking at the event, which had a larger part of the audience watching via live streaming in the comfort of their homes and offices, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Thulagano Segokgo thanked BTC for pioneering telecommunications in Botswana, as it reaffirms Government’s commitment to a digitally transformed and knowledgeable society.  

He explained that the Government of Botswana had introduced the national ICT policy, called Maitlamo, which functions as a blueprint through which social, economic, cultural, and political transformation will be executed, to better ensure that “No one is left behind.” The Maitlamo policy aims to provide a communications network that equates high international standards and ensures the country has the relevant skills to be an ICT champion.

Lorato Boakgomo Ntakhwana concurred with the minister and added that BTC’s vast network straddles the entire country making the next step of national digitization a natural extension of capabilities already housed within this strategic national asset.

“Our Network is available in all terrains using next generation technologies such as VSAT in remote out of grid areas using satellites that beam across continents. Having speeds of up 250 Mega Bites Per second (Mbps) we are talking international standards of speed, access and convenience”.

The BTC Managing Director, Anthony Masunga presented on the topic ‘BTC as the anchor of the Botswana Digital Agenda’. Adding that BTC has evolved to partner with Government as the Nation transitions to a knowledge- based economy. “We state in our purpose that ‘we exist to provide superior digital solutions to our people to enable them to live connected.”

Masunga said their team of over 1000 people is “exceedingly proud of our track record spanning 40 years”. Transforming Botswana for success in the digital age” is aimed at driving Botswana’s transformation agenda and positioning the economy and enterprises operating in it for greater success, explained the MD.

All in all, the summit brought together over forty (40) local and international leaders, visionaries, digital innovators, and change-makers who are at the forefront of digital transformation to speak on 6 broad thematic areas namely Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Analytics, Connectivity including 5G, Cloud Services and Mobility, Fintech & Blockchain, Digital & Technology.

Source: BizTech Africa