The Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) has issued a notice to operators to develop infrastructure-sharing plans, following the drawing up of passive infrastructure sharing guidelines.

The three-month notice is in line with the BTA’s strategic intent of promoting rapid deployment of efficient infrastructures and better service provision.

Thari Pheko, BTA chief executive, says the development encourages and promotes the sharing of rights-of-way, antenna masts and towers, poles, ducts, trenches and space in equipment shelters and buildings.

“The guidelines will promote fair competition through granting of equal access to the installations and facilities of operators on mutually agreed terms,” he said.

“Telecommunications operators in the country are urged to cooperate and embrace infrastructure sharing as means of improving network quality, particularly in congested areas,” he added.

Pheko said infrastructure sharing will improve rollout in underserved areas, protect the environment by reducing the proliferation of infrastructure and facilities installations, and avoid duplication of network deployment to save cost and reducing customer tariffs.

“The coming into effect of the guidelines will herald a new way of doing business by most telecom operators where they opt to rent facilities such as base stations from other operators who would have a niche in building them, instead of constructing their own.”

Pheko said BTA is committed to continuously monitor the market in order to prevent possibility of anticompetitive practice that may occur from infrastructure sharing.