Communications in Botswana

A fiber-optic telecommunications network has been completed in Botswana connecting all major population centers. Fiber Optic strands An optical fiber in American English or fibre in British English is a transparent thin fiber for transmitting light. ...

In addition to the government-owned newspaper and national radio network, there is an active, independent press (six weekly newspapers). Two privately owned radio stations began operations in 1999. At the end of July 2000, the government-owned Botswana Television (BTV) was launched, which is Botswana's first national television station. It began broadcasting with 3 hours of programming on weekdays and 5 on weekends, and offers news (Setswana and English), entertainment, and sports, with plans eventually to produce 60% of its programming locally. Foreign publications are sold without restriction in Botswana, and there are three commercial Internet service providers. Two cellular phone providers cover most of the country. Press is a general term having a number of related meanings stemming from the original definition of pressing as the physical action of applying force: Things relating to Metalworking: Machine press, a machine that shapes material by the application of pressure; Flypress, a machine that cuts material by pressing with... Tswana, also known as Setswana, is a Bantu language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... An Internet service provider (ISP) is a business or organization that offers users access to the Internet and related services. ... Cellular redirects here. ...

Telephones - main lines in use: 131,000 (September 2001), 78,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 270,000 (September 2001)

Telephone system:
general: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile cellular service and participation in regional development
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile cellular service is growing fast
international: two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001), AM 7, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios: 237,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (2001), 0 (1997)

Televisions: 31,000 (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (2001), 2 (1999)

Satellite Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2005) Technologie Satelitarne, Polish Satellite Provider

Internet users: 33,000 (2001)

Country codes: BW