Botswana Post has inked a deal with South African company Cloudseed to provide internet connectivity across Botswana.

CloudSeed, founded in 2006, is a 100% South African black owned company that offers specialised services in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

Areas that Cloudseed has a core focus in include rapid deployment of disruptive technology, connectivity and cloud based services.

And the partnership is expected to address a growing market need for internet in Botswana through wireless network, wired network and public and corporate hotspots, available via terrestrial and satellite connection.

Dubbed ‘PosoCloud’, the service is also intended to provide end-to-end solutions for consumers and help Botswana Post reach its endeavours to leverage on technology and diversify the post office’s revenue streams.

The value of the deal, though, has not been revealed.

“We have evolved ourselves from a traditionalist to a service provider of choice by leveraging on technology as well as strategic partnerships,” said Martin Makgatle Botswana Post chairman, adding that the post office has increased the use of ICT by creating innovative channels to provide customer convenience.

“These solutions underscore the business innovation characteristic that will enable us to be the icon of excellence.”

Makgatle is upbeat that new technologies do not pose threat for Botswana Post but rather a stepping stone to the parastatal’s strategic objectives to be a 500 million pula profit company by 2016.

Connie Storom, Cloudseed Botswana chief executive officer, said PosoCloud will operate at 2 Megabit per second (Mbps) speeds.

“We believe that this partnership will be the answer to the information access and exchange challenges in Botswana,” Storom said.

The service is also expected to provide cloud applications that will include mail, calendaring, storage, procurement and task management accessed via web or desktop.