MINISTRY OF WORKS, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
3. BACKGROUND
In 1992 the following Presidential Directives were issued by Cabinet:
CAB. MEMO/117 SWC 13/30
Competition in the provision of Telecommunications.
CAB. MEMO/98 SWC 13/30
An Appropriate Ownership for Mobile Telephones in Botswana.
In implementation of the above directives, the Ministry of Works,
Transport and Communications approached some experienced
telecommunications authorities and consultants to consider, examine and
advise on the following issues related to the restructuring and
involvement of the private sector in the provision of telecommunications
services:
i)
Formulation
of
appropriate
telecommunication
policy.
ii)
Drafting
of
appropriate
telecommunication
legislation.
iii) Establishment of a telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
iv) Interconnection and equal access policy for providers of value added
network services (VANS) and Botswana Telecommunications
Corporation(BTC).
v) Interconnection charges and tariffs for use of BTC infrastructure and
services by providers of VANS.
Considering the complex nature of the assignment, and recognizing the
unavailability of in-house expertise, a consultancy contract was awarded
to a consortium consisting of Swedtel and ISO-Swedish Management
Group in October 1994.
A Reference Group was constituted to initially evaluate the consultancy
proposals and then to direct and oversee the activities of the Consultants
throughout the duration of the study. The Reference Group, under the
Chairmanship of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications,
comprises members from the Ministry of Finance and Development
Planning, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Attorney Generals
Chambers, the Directorate of Public Service Management and Botswana
Telecommunications Corporation.
8
TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY FOR BOTSWANA