2.
Background
2.1
The Authority has responsibility under the Act to:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
supervise and promote the provision of efficient
telecommunication services in Botswana;
take all reasonable steps to promote the provision, throughout
Botswana, of such telecommunication services as will satisfy all
reasonable demands for such services;
promote the interests of consumers, purchasers and other
users of telecommunication services in respect of the prices
charged for, and the quality and variety of, such services and
equipment or terminal equipment supplied for the purposes of
such services; and
promote and maintain competition among persons engaged in
commercial activities for or in connection with the provision of
telecommunication services, and promote efficiency and
economy on the part of persons so engaged.
2.2
The Authority has determined that it is necessary to encourage
and/or promote passive infrastructure sharing amongst licensees in
order to achieve its purposes as specified in the Act and restated in
sub-paragraph (2.1) above.
2.3
These Guidelines proceed from a premise that all operators have the
liberty to negotiate passive infrastructure sharing arrangements in
accordance with mutually agreed terms.
2.4
These Guidelines are designed and developed to encourage passive
infrastructure sharing between operators within a predetermined
framework to remove uncertainty and create an environment for
better co-operation.
2.5
While the guidelines are specifically directed at the sharing of
specified passive infrastructure, the operators are encouraged and
may voluntarily adopt the principles contained herein with respect to
the sharing of any infrastructure not specifically mentioned herein.
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