Communication in Botswana

In daily life, personal conversations as well as mobile telephony, SMS and mobile data predominate. In 2024, 84.2 percent of people aged five and over used a mobile phone; 94.8 percent of mobile-phone users used it to communicate or chat. Botswana has three public telecommunications operators: the fixed-line, mobile and data operator (Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL)), plus Mascom and Orange, mainly for mobile services and mobile internet. The telecommunications regulator (Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA)) regulates the sector. International dialling codes begin with +267; fixed-line numbers have seven digits, mobile and VoIP numbers have eight, and M2M or IoT numbers have ten. SIM cards must be registered. Citizens use their national identity card (Omang), while foreign users use their passports. After the 30 June 2024 deadline, 86.18 percent of active SIM cards were registered and 609,222 cards were blocked; reactivation takes place through registration. Costs and services depend on the provider and on whether the tariff is prepaid or postpaid. Internet access is widespread but unevenly distributed. In 2024, 68.9 percent of households had internet access, with mobile broadband connections dominating at 86.1 percent. 57.5 percent of people used the internet, 59.2 percent had reported basic digital skills, and 8.5 percent used e-government services. 87.2 percent of internet users went online through mobile networks. Rural areas more often have poorer connections and fewer digital skills. The public access and affordability fund (Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF)) supports access and affordability in unserved or underserved areas, as well as infrastructure for schools, health facilities and Community Access Centres. Community internet services reached only a limited part of the population in 2024. The designated postal operator (BotswanaPost) is the named postal service. Universal services include domestic and cross-border letters weighing up to 100 grams, postal parcels, post office boxes, registered and insured items, court documents, and free cecograms weighing up to seven kilograms. The Postal Charter provides for delivery to every address, approximately five mail exchanges per working week, and delivery within about one to six days. Parcel times depend on the zone and are approximately two to seven days according to the product booklet. BotswanaPost stores items for one month and gives notice through the postal address and by SMS. The Charter refers to universal items weighing up to 20 kilograms, while the product booklet specifies up to 30 kilograms depending on the product; current product and tariff conditions therefore apply. For government information, the government communications service (Botswana Government Communications and Information Services (BGCIS)) coordinates government and citizen communication. Information is available through gov.bw, ministries and authorities, BGCIS at Private Bag 001 Gaborone, and bgcis@gov.bw. The call centre of the Ministry of Communications and Innovation uses the number 17779. Local Authorities and District Councils handle regional matters; traditional leaders (Dikgosi) and community assemblies (Makgotla) supplement these channels. A local institution for formal community consultation, decision-making and some civil dispute resolution (Kgotla) is not a general rule for forms of conversation or address. English is the official language, and Setswana is the national language. Other indigenous languages are used in daily life. The status of other languages and sign language as official languages is not supported by evidence of current law; recognition of sign language was the subject of a parliamentary motion in 2026. BGCIS can provide information in several formats. The disability rights law (Persons with Disability Act 2024) prohibits discrimination by public bodies and authorities and in relation to goods, services and facilities, and provides for reasonable accommodations. Interpreters and readers are recognised as assistance roles. There is no evidence of a nationwide guaranteed sign-language, relay, Easy Language or accessible digital-channel service with uniform costs and time limits. The Disability Coordination Office supports the secretariat of the National Disability Council. For digital communication, the data protection law (Data Protection Act 2024) provides the data-protection framework. The digital services law (Digital Services Act 2025) received assent on 17 October 2025, but according to the research its commencement was still subject to a notice. In emergencies, 999 is for the police and 997 for the ambulance service. The ambulance service is intended to operate around the clock; its officially stated coverage includes Gaborone, Mochudi, Lobatse, Mahalapye, Palapye, Phikwe, Francistown, Maun and Kasane, and the published service information states at least ten minutes. These numbers are not intended for ordinary enquiries. For a telecommunications complaint, the user first contacts the provider and then a higher complaint level within the provider. If the matter remains unresolved, BOCRA may be approached with a complaint. It should include the parties and addresses, the facts, evidence and the remedy sought. Typical topics include billing, repair or connection delays, outages and internet contracts. BOCRA investigates where there is an initial indication of a breach of the Communications Regulatory Authority Act or a licence; no fixed published deadline or fee is evidenced. Complaints about government administration begin with an oral clarification and may be submitted in writing to the department head, the Director or CEO and then the Permanent Secretary. The Ombudsman may then be considered; copies of communications and other evidence should be retained. The Ombudsman may refuse cases where the delay is more than twelve months. Regional offices are located in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Tsabong.