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Botswana plans connecting all citizens to broadcast, online services

Botswana plans connecting all citizens to broadcast, online services

Botswana president Ian Khama says his administration plans to connect every citizen of the landlocked country to enhanced broadcast and online services.

Khama announced that the country, which has a population of 2 million according to the World Bank, has made progress on its digital migration process in areas such as free to air terrestrial television, expanded transmitter coverage, enhanced satellite capacity and e-communications.

“With respect to satellite services we have migrated to the new IS20 platform. The benefits of this move include annual cost savings of about P 6 million, a much wider footprint and increased capacity,” said President Khama, citing that the development could allow for additional television channels.

The Intelsat 20 (IS-20) satellite replaces the old IS-7 and IS-10 satellite models.

On transmitter expansion, the President said three new sites have been completed this year, which has expanded radio and television coverage to 62 settlements.

Through the development, some of the country’s remote settlements are receiving radio transmission for the first time, 44 years after the country’s independence.

President Khama also said expanded local programming is critical.

“In terms of content, Radio Botswana has increased its share of local music from 65% to 75%, while Botswana Television’s local content has also increased from 53% to 57%,” he said.

Internet access is also growing in the small country.

“In moving forward we are aware that the number of citizens able to access online services has been growing, with recent surveys suggesting that 42% of Batswana now go online several times a week, with an additional 23% making occasional use of the internet. In this context 59% are reported to have visited a Government website,” said Khama.

“Our commitment to enhanced online communications is further reflected in the rising traffic on the Government e-Portal and associated websites as well as the growing popularity of the Government Facebook Page since its reboot in July 2012,” he added.

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