Infrastructure and access
- Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure4
- Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure3
- Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure3
- Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure2
- Data Center / Cloud Infrastructure1
Digital Divide Country Profile · Africa
BW
Botswana
Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.
Location in the world
Botswana
Africa
Botswana🇧🇼
- Population (2024)
- 2,521,139
- Total area
- 581,730 km²
- Area in square miles
- 224,607.12 mi²
- Coastline
- Landlocked · 0 km
National digital inclusion context
A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.
This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Botswana in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.
The documented portfolio emphasizes Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure, Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure, Fiber/Fiber Optic, Cloud Computing. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.
Portfolio pattern
What the documented response contains.
Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.
Specific technologies
- Fiber/Fiber Optic3
- Cloud Computing1
- Computers, printers, and digital school kits1
- FTTx1
- Wi-Fi broadband1
Intervention classification
- Infrastructure and Specific Technology5
- Infrastructure only5
- Neither explicitly identified1
- School device and digital-learning support initiative1
Education and workforce
Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.
3 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 0 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.
Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.
Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.
Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.
Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.
Project and initiative portfolio
12 documented records
Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.
01Affordable community Wi-Fi
BTC Old Naledi Community Wi-Fi Initiative
Launched 2025 · Old Naledi, GaboroneView details
Affordable community Wi-Fi
BTC Old Naledi Community Wi-Fi Initiative
Launched 2025 · Old Naledi, GaboroneStatus / periodLaunched 2025LocationOld Naledi, GaboronePopulationResidents of a lower-income urban communityOrganizationsBotswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC); local community partnersFundingNot stated in source
Provides low-cost and limited free Wi-Fi access as a community-level affordability intervention.
Activities and approach: Community Wi-Fi hotspots; prepaid low-cost access; daily free access allowance
02School broadband connectivity
Giga school connectivity initiative – Botswana
Active since 2023 · Schools nationwideView details
School broadband connectivity
Giga school connectivity initiative – Botswana
Active since 2023 · Schools nationwideStatus / periodActive since 2023LocationSchools nationwidePopulationStudents, teachers and communities around schoolsOrganizationsUNICEF; ITU; Government of Botswana
Supports mapping, infrastructure planning and procurement to connect schools and reduce educational connectivity gaps.
Activities and approach: School mapping; connectivity analysis; procurement
EducationK–12
03Rural broadband and institutional connectivity
Internet and backhaul connectivity to facilities in 61 villages
Procurement / implementation program · 61 villagesView details
Rural broadband and institutional connectivity
Internet and backhaul connectivity to facilities in 61 villages
Procurement / implementation program · 61 villagesStatus / periodProcurement / implementation programLocation61 villagesPopulationPublic facilities and surrounding communitiesOrganizationsSmart Botswana / Government of Botswana
Targets villages with Internet and backhaul connectivity, expanding access outside the main urban network footprint.
Activities and approach: Backhaul; Internet access; facility connectivity
04Last-mile / local access fiber
Local Access FTTX program
Ongoing government program · Villages nationwideView details
Last-mile / local access fiber
Local Access FTTX program
Ongoing government program · Villages nationwideStatus / periodOngoing government programLocationVillages nationwidePopulationSchools, hospitals, government offices, businesses and householdsOrganizationsMinistry of Communications and Innovation; BOFINET
Deploys local access networks within villages so institutions and businesses can obtain high-speed Internet service.
Activities and approach: FTTX; underground fiber; overhead fiber
EducationK–12
05School device and digital-learning support initiative
Natale Village School Technology Donations
Community initiative reported May 25, 2026 · Natale Village schoolsView details
School device and digital-learning support initiative
Natale Village School Technology Donations
Community initiative reported May 25, 2026 · Natale Village schoolsStatus / periodCommunity initiative reported May 25, 2026LocationNatale Village schoolsPopulationStudents and schools in Natale VillageOrganizationsBotswana Ministry of Communications and Innovation; sector partners
adding school technology and digital-learning materials in a rural community
Activities and approach: Donation of computers, printers, digital school kits, and related school support
EducationK–12
06National fiber backbone expansion
National backbone network expansion
Ongoing government program · Gazetted villages nationwideView details
National fiber backbone expansion
National backbone network expansion
Ongoing government program · Gazetted villages nationwideStatus / periodOngoing government programLocationGazetted villages nationwidePopulationGovernment institutions, businesses and communitiesOrganizationsMinistry of Communications and Innovation; BOFINET
Extends high-capacity fiber connectivity to more villages, increasing backbone availability for local Internet access.
Activities and approach: National fiber backbone; high-capacity links
07Rural broadband
SmartBots 61-Village Internet and Backhaul Connectivity Procurement
Active procurement · 61 villagesView details
Rural broadband
SmartBots 61-Village Internet and Backhaul Connectivity Procurement
Active procurement · 61 villagesStatus / periodActive procurementLocation61 villagesPopulationResidents, public facilities and local businessesOrganizationsSmart Botswana; Government of Botswana
Extends high-speed connectivity and backhaul into villages that need better digital access.
Activities and approach: Internet access and backhaul connectivity
08Digital inclusion / affordability
SmartBots Affordable Digital Service Access Programme
Ongoing · NationwideView details
Digital inclusion / affordability
SmartBots Affordable Digital Service Access Programme
Ongoing · NationwideStatus / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationLow-income and underserved usersOrganizationsGovernment of Botswana
Targets universal, quality and affordable access to digital services, addressing the usage and affordability gap.
Activities and approach: Affordable digital services; access support
09Government digital infrastructure
SmartBots Government Cloud Infrastructure
Ongoing · NationwideView details
Government digital infrastructure
SmartBots Government Cloud Infrastructure
Ongoing · NationwideStatus / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and public agenciesOrganizationsGovernment of Botswana
Creates shared cloud infrastructure so digital public services can scale beyond major urban centres.
Activities and approach: Government cloud
10Digital public infrastructure
SmartBots Interoperable Government Digital Infrastructure
Ongoing · NationwideView details
Digital public infrastructure
SmartBots Interoperable Government Digital Infrastructure
Ongoing · NationwideStatus / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and public agenciesOrganizationsGovernment of Botswana
Improves interoperability between government systems and services, increasing meaningful use of connectivity.
Activities and approach: Interoperable government systems
11Universal broadband
SmartBots Universal Connectivity for All Batswana
Ongoing national implementation · NationwideView details
Universal broadband
SmartBots Universal Connectivity for All Batswana
Ongoing national implementation · NationwideStatus / periodOngoing national implementationLocationNationwidePopulationHouseholds, businesses and public institutionsOrganizationsGovernment of Botswana
Targets universal, quality and affordable digital connectivity across Botswana.
Activities and approach: High-speed broadband expansion
12International backhaul connectivity
Tlokweng–Johannesburg international connectivity link
Government/BOFINET partnership · Tlokweng border to JohannesburgView details
International backhaul connectivity
Tlokweng–Johannesburg international connectivity link
Government/BOFINET partnership · Tlokweng border to JohannesburgStatus / periodGovernment/BOFINET partnershipLocationTlokweng border to JohannesburgPopulationBotswana Internet users, operators and businessesOrganizationsBOFINET; Broadband Infraco; Ministry of Communications and Innovation
Adds lower-cost regional transit capacity and redundancy, helping reduce Internet transit costs and improve service quality.
Activities and approach: Cross-border fiber/backhaul; international transit
Evidence boundary
Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.
Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.
Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.
Evidence and contextProfile Sources+
These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Botswana. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/botswana/
- International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
- World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Botswana. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=BW
- World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Botswana. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BW