Botswana’s internet tariffs are not competitive enough to match the level of investment despite huge investment in undersea and national infrastructure, a parastatal organisation said Wednesday.Speaking during the launch of revised Botswana Fibre Optics Network (BOFINET) international bandwidth tariffs, the organisation’s chief executive Mabua Mabua said such a scenario had directly affected the speed and size of bandwidth that the user or consumer could afford.
“We are gathered here today to witness reviewed tariffs for the International Protocol Transit (IPT) and International Leased Private Circuits (IPLC). These two products directly affect connectivity amongst us in Botswana and to the rest of the world,” he said.
He said BOFINET had come up with strategies to make wholesale internet tariffs as competitive as regional and international tariffs.
He explained that such strategies covered collaboration with neighbouring bandwidth suppliers for long term contracts, which had drastically reduced Botswana’s input costs for wholesale internet.
“When we launched BOFINET last year, we entered the market with wholesale internet tariffs that were between 30 and 59 percent lower than the average markets. Today the tariffs we are launching are between 40 and 70 percent below the ones we launched last year,” he said.
He further said the reductions would be enjoyed by licensed service providers, who should also do as much as possible to pass the benefits of reduction of wholesale tariffs to customers.
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“We are gathered here today to witness reviewed tariffs for the International Protocol Transit (IPT) and International Leased Private Circuits (IPLC). These two products directly affect connectivity amongst us in Botswana and to the rest of the world,” he said.
He said BOFINET had come up with strategies to make wholesale internet tariffs as competitive as regional and international tariffs.
He explained that such strategies covered collaboration with neighbouring bandwidth suppliers for long term contracts, which had drastically reduced Botswana’s input costs for wholesale internet.
“When we launched BOFINET last year, we entered the market with wholesale internet tariffs that were between 30 and 59 percent lower than the average markets. Today the tariffs we are launching are between 40 and 70 percent below the ones we launched last year,” he said.
He further said the reductions would be enjoyed by licensed service providers, who should also do as much as possible to pass the benefits of reduction of wholesale tariffs to customers.
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