MINISTRY OF WORKS, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
2. RECOMMENDATIONS
A strong and clear telecommunications policy needs to be adopted to lay
the foundation stone for appropriate legislation and associatedregulations,
and for a sound and independent regulatory authority to ensure a level
playing field in the provision of telecommunications services in a
competitive environment.To achieve that, the following recommendation
are made:
MARKET STRUCTURES
M. 1 Competition is introduced in the telecommunications industry.
M.2 BTC will compete on equal terms in competitive market segments.
M.3 BTC is contracted to operate and maintain the national network.
M.4 BTC's competitive business is carried out separately from other
activities.
M.5 BTC’s non-competitive operations are regulated in a performance
contract.M.6 A mandatory and mutual interconnection obligation is
introduced.
REGULATION
R.1 Regulatory functions are separated from operational and policy
making functions.
R.2 A Regulatory Authority is established.
R.3 The Regulatory authority is established under the Ministry of
Works, Transport and Communications but with its own Board of
Directors.
R.4 The Regulatory Authority is empowered to issue regulations and
licences and to settle disputes.
R.5 Prices and tariffs are regulated for national long-distance services,
cellular telephone services and local network services.
LEGISLATION
L. 1 The Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Act of 1980 is
amended to. abolish BTC's monopoly position and functions to issue
licences.
L.2 A new Botswana Telecommunications Act which establishes and
empowers the Regulatory Authority is enacted.
L.3 A mandatory licensing system for operations of networks and
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TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY FOR BOTSWANA