08 April 2022

The government of Botswana has unveiled plans to connect a total of 500 villages to the internet at a cost of US$12.7m

The SmartBots project will be implemented in phases as villages with a lower than 5,000 population will be connected through the User-Activated Soft Fork (UASF). For that purpose, the government will provide subsidies to mobile operators.

Villages with a population of 5,000 or more will be upgraded to 4G and beyond through regulatory interventions by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). In its first phase, the project will provide internet access in 61 villages with minimal access to back-haul infrastructure electricity for broadband internet.

The SmartBots project is in line with the National Broadband Strategy (NBS) launched in 2018 by the Botswana government as part of its digital transformation process. It is expected to enable approximately 1.2 million Botswanans to access broadband internet and digital services through Wi-Fi hotspots available in public places. According to the government, the project will enable citizens to actively participate in the development of the digital economy. SmartBots will also provide many employment opportunities and allow the youth to compete globally.