Rural telecommunications development in Botswana: socio-economic & strategic issues

In 1989, a study was undertaken to plan the development of rural telecommunications in Botswana. The project examined the feasibility of a nationwide programme to bring telephone service to all Botswana villages with a population over 500. The study was funded by the African Development Bank, and was conducted on behalf of the Government of Botswana by CANAC Telecom and INTELECON Research & Consultancy Ltd. Assistance was provided by the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC). The paper deals with the financial, socio-economic and human resource aspects of the envisaged programme. The study also involved a substantial engineering component, including outline designs for serving all 200 villages