04 Oct 2018

Imagine the world at just your fingertips! 

A touch here and a touch there and you are almost certain that in a few minutes or so, someone will be at your doorstep delivering that parcel you long wanted to lay your hands on. 

Nevertheless, three decades ago, such would not have been possible. 

For example, your modisa, Tsheganangangatswane, would have stealthily retreated back into his little bungalow at the cattlepost and prayed for your visit sooner than later. 

News about the stranger who visited him last night and left just a spoor as a warning sign, would have taken days, if not weeks, to reach you. 

Worst of it all, getting to the cattle post would have been another nightmare because of the bad roads and unreliable transport. But today, both of you are just a touch of a button away. 

Add that to the abundant of multi-media technology, which not only makes convergence as easy as ABC but turns the virtual world into reality. This is the 21st Century, simply termed the digital age. 

Information in all its forms, be it image data or sound, demands just your ingenuity to tell your story, thanks to the advent of Internet. 

A massive technological revolution has hit the world! 

Everyone, everywhere, anywhere, anytime is connected. 

Late 90s when the cellphone first hit Botswana, only the well heeled could afford it. 

Fast forward to 2018, even those whose job is just to tend cattle like Tsheganangangatswane, are riding the superhighway of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT). 

July 2012, a World Bank study revealed that Botswana had one of the highest mobile phone density rates, beating industrialised giants such as the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. 

By then, Botswana ranked third in Africa with 144 subscriptions per 100 people, coming after Gabon and Libya with 165 and 172 subscriptions per 100 people respectively. 

The study assessed mobile phone uptake in 152 countries and their use in promoting development particularly in agriculture, health, financial services and government.

Statistics from the Ministry of Transport and Communications indicated that in July 2013, mobile subscriptions in Botswana stood at 457 782, shooting up to over three million, that is 3 226 389 to be precise, in March 2017. 

With a population of just above two million recorded in the 2011 population census, transport and communications spokesperson, Priscilla Simula, says mobile technology has supported economic growth, precipitating high efficiency to service delivery across sectors. 

This means people like Tsheganangangatswane, can think on their feet and summon all their ingenuity when confronted with challenges in their daily routine of tending cattle. 

He just needs to touch a small screen to alert his master just about anything or even send pictures about the situation at the cattle post without either of them having to travel long distances or staying weeks without getting in touch. 

Society’s enhanced socio-economic welfare derived from mobile technology is appreciated in all aspects and such benefits seem to outweigh the downside of technology. 

“Botswana is not in any way unique in experiencing technological transformation. Transformation is global and what the country needs to do is keep up lest we are left behind as we cannot compete as a business, investment and tourist destination,” adds Simula. 

Government as well has harnessed the convenience of mobile telephony and Simula cites SMS alerts about renewal of road licenses, examination results accessed through mobile which was not a norm in the past as people had to traverse territories to access services. 

Social networking and interaction has also become easier. 

Communication has become quicker and more affordable. 

E-commerce and banking has become more efficient. 

Educational and general information is easily accessible, a revolution from the brick and mortar libraries to just a touch on a mobile phone screen. 

Recreation and entertainment through streaming of music and videos, adds another interesting dimension. 

Above all, Simula explains that most service providers are now turning to development of mobile phone based applications/portals/platforms for handling customer care including customer enquiries, complaints, account enquiries and bill payments. 

For Botswana to have made a giant leap forward in standards, owes largely to Simula’s ministry playing a crucial role through major policy changes. 

Such contributions to the revolution of mobile technology, Simula says, include but are not limited to the establishment of the then communication regulator Botswana Telecommunication Authority which later authorised two Public Telecommunication Operators, Mascom Wireless Botswana and Vista which later rebranded to Orange Botswana. 

Owing to the repealing of the then Botswana Telecommunications Act, bringing in Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) to offer mobile services and structural separation of the corporation, Botswana now has three mobile operators. 

Simula adds that there are more value added network service providers such as Internet Service Providers and “with these enabling legislations Botswana is able to boast the largest subscriber base than population”. 

Taking the bad with the good, Simula admits nothing is perfect as mobile technology too has its downside. 

The revolution has seen the birth of cyber criminals and cyber bullies. Nevertheless, Botswana is working on stringent enforcement policies and laws to bring to book those who trample on other people’s rights on cyberspace. 

Having passed Parliament for the first time in 2007, the Cybercrime and Computer-Related Crimes Act was amended this April to contain four parts and 36 clauses. 

In the end, Simula remains optimistic that the increased use of mobile phones is expected to continue with new technological development, thus improved efficiency… ”the most apparent effect of mobile technology is in the mobile money services, which has improved financial inclusion. 

In 2011 about P23 million was transacted using mobile money services while in 2017, the value of transactions had grown to P3.5 billion.” 

According to the 2017 Mobile Economy Report of the GSM Association, Africa currently has 420 million unique mobile subscribers representing a 43 per cent penetration. 

By 2020, the report predicts that 500 million Africans will be mobile subscribers, making it the fastest growing mobile market. 

Perhaps more important, smartphone connections have doubled in sub-Saharan Africa to nearly 200 million over the past two years. 

Incidentally, Ovum estimates that mobile broadband connections in Africa will rise from 419 million at the end of 2017 to over one billion by the end of 2022. 

While the figures may differ, the message is the same: Africa’s digital economy will be built on mobile platforms, creating exciting opportunities for farsighted mobile operators to play a key role in the continent’s digital revolution. 

With the youth market accustomed to use of mobile phones because of convenience together with an increasing population of the educated and creative, mobile technology is expected to become a technology of choice that will influence the way people socialise, conduct business and deal with welfare, posits Simula. BOPA