21 Aug 2024

Kanye businesses and government institutions can now enjoy high capacity, high speed broadband Internet connectivity.

This came after the Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Honourable Thulagano Segokgo marked the conclusion of the fibre connection project in Kanye on Wednesday.

The infrastructure deployment project was undertaken by the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology through Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) working with Teletechnics, a citizen-owned company as contractors for the project.

Speaking during the project handover, Mr Segokgo noted that government was committed to promoting digitalisation across both the public and private sectors so as to ensure the availability of real time information to improve service delivery and decision making.

He pointed out that the project, which was part of government’s efforts to expand ICT network and broadband Internet penetration across the country, would grow the domestic ICT sector contribution to the overall economy and create jobs, especially to the youth.

Digital technologies enable fast and efficient service delivery, increase productivity and open up new untapped markets, therefore the project aligns with the government’s Reset Agenda, which has digitalisation as one of its five pillars, he said.

The Minister further stressed that digitalisation was a top priority on the agenda because ICT connected people, communities, businesses and customers, government and the general public.

He assured his audience that the government would continue to plan and expand the ICT network coverage in the country to other areas where they have not yet reached.

Furthermore, the minister commended Teletechnics for their Corporate Social Responsibility project at Makaba II Primary School, where they donated 15 computers, a laptop and a printer for the learners.

Mr Segokgo further implored the leadership, business community and the public in Kanye to embrace the new infrastructure and put it to good use in order for the government to realise its aspirations of digitalisation.

For his part, the Member of Parliament for Kanye North, Honourable Thapelo Letsholo acknowledged the project, saying it would improve Kanye businesses, connect communities, improve grades at schools and reduce crime as well as create employment.

He called on the youth to utilise the new infrastructure to grow their businesses, saying it was through ICT that some influencers and tik-tokers were millionaires.

Giving the project overview, BoFiNet deputy board chairperson, Mr Mothusi Tladi said the project, which aimed at deploying optical fibre in the local network for Kanye, was done at a cost of P17.8 million.

He explained that the project would enable strategic areas such as government institutions, businesses and hospitality establishments to have access to the latest high capacity technology with broadband speed of up to 10Gbps.

The project, which took 11 months to complete, covers three fibre loops over a total distance of more than 80.5 kilometres. Ends