The Southern Times posted today that Botswana’s telecoms regulator, Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), has issued a directive to telecommunications operators in the country to effect price reductions on telecoms services. Services to be affected by the directive include wholesale ADSL (broadband Internet delivered through a standard fixed line), mobile termination and fixed termination among others.
According to the BTA CEO, Thari Pheko, mobile termination rates have been reduced from 75 thebe (about US 10 cents) to 45 thebe (about US 6 cents) and will reduce by a further 5 thebe (US 1 cent) until 2014. Wholesale ADSL services will generally be reduced by 17%. Fixed termination rates however, which are currently priced below cost, will be increased by 1 thebe until 2014.
The price reductions according to the CEO have been a result of the completion of the East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) project in December 2010 making international bandwidth much cheaper. THE CEO explained that while the revision have been effected to reflect general cost reductions, the ADSL reduction is also meant to make ADSL affordable to users.
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3 comments
Such a pity that POTRAZ has issued a directive to keep prices of last mile connectivity in Zimbabwe at the same price – no reductions.
I doubt if we will feel that effect here in Zimbabwe!!!!
Living example of good governance!