Thulagano Segokgo, Botswana minister of communications, information, and technology.

Orange Botswana, a mobile network operator, has opened a $5.2 million tier 3 data centre in the Botswana Digital Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park.

According to Brelotte Ba, deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, the initiative would promote technological advancement and drive digital inclusion.

According to him, the data centre is creating the groundwork for a digital economy that will empower enterprises, individuals, and communities.

"This data centre will act as a catalyst for economic growth, providing the technological foundation required for businesses to thrive in the digital age."

“It would enable Orange Botswana to provide its consumers with quicker, more secure, and innovative services, ushering in a wave of good change in the region," added Ba.

He stated that Orange Group is committed to ensuring that Botswana may continue to benefit from the digital revolution.

"The African continent is an inspiring and successful digital transformation model. The strategic establishment of this data centre demonstrates the Orange Group's vision for a connected and technologically empowered future," Ba said.

He stated that the materials and equipment used in construction are modern, assuring reliable and cutting-edge telecommunication services for the people of Botswana.

Nene Maiga, CEO of Orange Botswana, echoed his thoughts, stating that the datacenter is modern, with advanced security features, technical systems, and an environmentally sensitive design.

"We are determined to move steadily towards uninterrupted services and look forward to offering Batswana advanced services like cloud solutions and real-time communication as well as constant connectivity through 5G," Maiga said.

She stated that the infrastructure will assist SMMEs and large enterprises in meeting digitalisation plans and providing services such as hosting this Tier III certified centre, which will provide redundancy and resilience.

Meanwhile, Thulagano Segokgo, the minister of communications, information, and technology, stated that the digital centre is consistent with the country's Vision 2036 pillar of sustainable economic development, which aspires to make Botswana a varied and knowledge-based economy.

"As a result, digitised platforms, such as those provided by Orange Botswana through this data centre, can help to bridge the gap between traditional and digital perspectives. We need to champion and embrace them more," Segokgo remarked.