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3.0 Main Findings of e-Readiness Study
3.1
The Benchmarking and Best Practices Study examined how Botswana
compares in connectivity and ICT applications to seven other countries
using common and internationally accepted comparators. The eReadiness Study was undertaken to provide a more detailed “snapshot”
of Botswana today. Rather than looking to see how Botswana compares
to other selected countries (as in the Benchmarking exercise), the eReadiness assessment examined the degree to which Botswana is
prepared to participate in the Networked World. It is gauged by
assessing the relative advancement in areas most critical for ICT
adoption and the most important applications of ICT. The assessment
looks at Access, Learning, Health, Society, Economy, and Legislation
and Policy. The questions that were developed under these headings
were answered through working with the various Task Forces, who in
turn consulted with knowledgeable government officials and members
of the private sector.
3.2
The e-Readiness Assessment completed in June 2004, showed that
Botswana’s level of e-readiness was a contrast of extremes. The World
Economic Forum (WEF) Global IT Report 2003-2004 currently ranks
Botswana 55th in the world in terms of overall national connectivity,
demonstrating that the country is already an active participant in the
global information society. The country has invested heavily in
infrastructure and telecommunications and has a high penetration of
fibre connectivity running to the urban areas. It has a sophisticated
Government Data Network (GDN) and Police Private Network
delivering connectivity to all government departments and agencies via
high-speed Internet and satellite links. Mobile telephone usage continues
to soar. In March 2004, a BTA study indicated that 31% of the
population (556,000) are using mobile phones.
3.3
Botswana has the distinct advantage of a world-renowned legal system,
acknowledged for the integrity of its legal practices and its respect for
the Rule of Law. It has a modern Telecommunications Act and a wellestablished regime of legal institutions. Many of the essentials for
accelerating Botswana into the digital economy appear to be in place;
however, there are also a number of major constraints that add
substantial complexities and challenges.
3.4
In Botswana today, there is considerable disparity between rural and
urban access to information and services – a “domestic information
divide.” The majority of urban centres are relatively well supplied with
radio, television, telephone and Internet access. The picture is
significantly different in remote and rural areas, where even access to