Botswana Telecommunications Authority

Last updated
Botswana Telecommunications Authority
BTA logo.svg
Agency overview
Formed1996
  • 2013 (2013)
Dissolved2013 (2013)
JurisdictionGovernment of Botswana
Headquarters206/207 Independence Avenue, Gaborone
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Website www.bta.org.bw

Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) is a dissolved independent commission that was responsible for regulating all matters related to telecommunications (wire, cellular, satellite and cable), postal services of Botswana and has been succeeded by Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority. [1] The Minister appoints all five board members, who serve on a part-time basis. The BTA is mandated to promote the development and provision of efficient telecommunications and broadcasting services in Botswana, under the terms of the Telecommunications Act 15 of 1996. There have been legal disputes between the BTA and licensed operators, springing from issues related to interconnection and pricing.

Contents

History

Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) was established in 1980 to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana's national and international telecommunications services. The Botswana government holds 100 percent equity in the BTC. [2] Botswana's history of sector reform dates to 1980, when the BTC was created through the Botswana Telecommunications Act. The act established the BTC as a monopoly of telecommunications services and separated it from Posts (which continued to operate as a government department).

Following public concerns regarding unsatisfactory telecommunications services during the 1990s (including lack of competition in providing services, limited private-sector participation, lack of transparency in decision-making and lack of a platform for consumer complaints), the government began public consultations to liberalise the telecommunications market. In 1992 the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications was tasked with policy transformation. The consultations culminated in the approval of the 1995 Telecommunications Policy for Botswana: the blueprint for restructuring the telecommunications sector, which embodied principles which guided the form of the government monopoly. The transformation process led to the formation of the BTA under the Telecommunications Act 1996, as passed in the National Assembly on 1 August 1996. [3]

BTA History.png

Structure and functions

The board, as established by section four of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the BTA and not involved in itsdaily management. It oversees the functions and approves policy and regulations. The board also approves the annual budget and additional expenditures not included in the annual budget. [4]

Mandate and purpose

The following legislation prescribes the powers and functions of the BTA:

Powers and functions

The aforementioned acts prescribe the powers and functions of BTA as follows:

Botswana Constitution

Section 12 protects freedom of expression. It also provides for an exemption, in that it states in subsection 12(2) that nothing contained in (or done under) the Telecommunications Act of 1996 or any law shall be held to be inconsistent with (or in contravention of) this section, to the extent that the law in question makes provision regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless, broadcasting or television.

Telecommunications Act of 1996

In terms of section 17, BTA's functions and powers are:

Telecommunications Regulations

In terms of the regulations:

Broadcasting Act of 1999

In terms of section nine, the BTA serves as the secretariat of the Botswana National Broadcasting Board (NBB). In terms of this role, the BTA:

In terms of section 12(2), BTA applications for broadcasting or re-broadcasting licences shall be made to the BTA as the secretariat; in terms of section 13, the NBB issues the licences.

In terms of section 15, any notices of changes to the particulars of a licence (especially with regard to proprietorship) or the acquisition of any interest shall be made to the BTA but approved by the NBB.

Telecommunication Amendment Act of 2004

The object of the Act is to amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as follows:

Core purposes

Further core purposes of the BTA are: [2]

Highlights and controversies

The BTA was involved in the following cases:

Key sector indicators

Key Indicators - ITU 2008 [14]
StatisticPer 100 inhabitants
Fixed telephone lines7.41
Mobile cellular subscriptions77.34
Internet users6.25
Computers6.25
Broadband Internet subscribers0.46
TV sets4.35
Radio sets75.58

See also

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References

  1. "Home". Botswana's Ministry of Transport and Communication. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "BTA's Origins". Botswana Telecommunications Authority. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  3. McCormick, Patricia K. (July 2001). "Telecommunications reform in Botswana: a policy model for African states". Telecommunications Policy. 25 (6): 409–420. doi:10.1016/S0308-5961(01)00014-3.
  4. "Management". BTA. Retrieved May 10, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Constitution of Botswana" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2011.
  6. "Telecommunications Act, 1996" (PDF). ITU. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  7. "Chapter 72:04 Broadcasting" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-27. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  8. http://www.bta.org.bw/pubs/acts/TELECOMMUNICATIONS%20REGULATIONS.pdf%5B%5D
  9. http://www.bta.org.bw/pubs/Telecomms%20Act%20Amedment%20(2).doc%5B%5D
  10. "Recent Experience In Interconnection Disputes" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  11. http://www.ictdec.org/regions/region_1/zone_4/database_3/dn/2000.html%5B%5D
  12. "ICT Regulatory Decisions Clearinghouse - List by Year". www.ictdec.org. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009.
  13. "ITU Corporate Strategy Newslog - Court Ruling in dispute between Botswana Telecommunication Authority and Orange". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  14. "International telecommunications Union". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.