MINISTRY OF WORKS, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
standards. It is furthermore assumed that the service provider will have to
enter into a contract with the network operator regarding the
interconnection. Again this should be a contractual matter, subject to
dispute resolution with the Regulatory Authority.
8. 3.4 Packet switched data services should require a
telecommunications licence. Such a licence should only be refused on
technical grounds (that the proposed system is not acceptable) or if there
are convincing reasons to believe that the operator is not serious or has
the capacity to operate the services sustainably.
8.3.5 Electronic mail services would not require any licence.
8.3.6 Cellular telephone services would require a telecommunications
licence. An application procedure should be put in place so that the first
licence may be granted soon after the enactment of the new
Telecommunications
Act.
Government will have to decide beforehand (and for a period of at least
three years) how many licences the Authority may grant. It would not be
in Botswana's interest to have too many operators involved, but more
than one licence should be granted in order to introduce competition.
The licences should be subject to conditions stipulated by the Regulatory
Authority. This may involve negotiations with the applicants, but the
basic conditions should be known beforehand. Transparency and
predictability of the procedure must be safe-guarded.
8.3.7 Local network services, i e geographically restricted
operations, with a right to connect to the national network would require
a licence. The extent of such a licence needs to be discussed as in some
cases it might be justified to grant an exclusive licence for a certain area
in order to promote expansion of networks and services.
8.3.8 Paging services would require a telecommunications licence,
but there is no reason to restrict the number of licences.
8.3.9 National telecommunications services i e services covering
more than one local network would require a licence. As the granting of
such licences would be a major threat to BTC, it is necessary to decide at
Cabinet level to what extent such competition is desirable. In support of
the universal service goal, competition in fixed networks i.e. duplication
of infrastructure should initially be discouraged. The more of the existing
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TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY FOR BOTSWANA