Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) has signed a non-equity partnership agreement with international mobile network and service provider Vodafone.

Under the non-equity partnership agreement, BTCL becomes Vodafone's preferred partner in Botswana. The two companies will jointly offer a range of products and services to business and consumer customers.

According to a statement drawn up by both companies BTCL will benefit from access to Vodafone best practice and will leverage products and services to enhance its value proposition to customers.

"Vodafone's multinational corporate customers will benefit from the addition of Botswana to their existing contracts for international managed services, while continuing to be serviced via a single point of contact," said the statement

Vodafone is said to operate in approximately 30 countries and partners with networks in over 50 countries, while BTCL operates a fixed telephone line and mobile network beMobile.

"This strategic partnership with BTCL for Botswana will enable us to expand the reach of our products and services within Africa and extends our footprint to 55 markets worldwide. It will also deliver enhanced roaming benefits for BTCL's consumer and multinational corporate customers," Vodafone Partner Markets Chief Executive Stefano Gastaut.

Sharing his sentiments on the development, Paul Taylor, Managing Director at BTCL said: "We are delighted to have entered into the non-equity strategic partnership with a global player of Vodafone's standing. The partnership will allow us to better differentiate against competition, delivering innovative communications solutions for the benefit of our customers and visitors to Botswana. Vodafone, on the other hand, will draw on BTCL's extensive network coverage."