News & Events

The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA or the Authority) is a statutory body established under the Communications Regulatory Authority Act [CRA Act No 19 of 2012], to promote ecient provision of communication services in Botswana. The Authority is mandated to regulate the communications sector in Botswana covering Telecommunications, Information, and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and Internet, Broadcasting and Postal.

In pursuit of its mandate, BOCRA has embarked on an exercise to collect information on communications' needs of schools across the country. The collected information will assist the Authority to examine availability and usage of communication services in the form of ICTs, Internet, and Broadcasting with the aim of coming up with regulatory models aimed at addressing existing problems in the education sector. BOCRA thus invites all Private Schools in Botswana to participate in the Schools Needs Assessment. The survey covers preschools, primary schools, and secondary schools. The survey can be accessed and lled in at the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/K6JYL8TH1NGXaCBf1

Responses to the survey should be received on or before the 6th July 2018. For additional information regarding this exercise, contact Mr. Olerato Tiego at Tel: +2673685571 or email: tiego@bocra.org.bw

The 17th May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the eventual creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Commemorated annually as the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), the purpose this Day is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

2018 Theme: Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence for All 

The WTISD 2018 commemoration under the theme “Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence for All” focuses on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the achievement of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through AI, various solutions can be developed that address specific global challenges related to poverty, hunger, health, equality, education, the environment, amongst others.

AI is a branch of computer science where machines can sense, learn, reason, act and adapt to the real world, amplifying human capabilities and automating tedious or dangerous tasks. This technology is made possible by tremendous advances in contributing fields such as Big Data, Machine Learning, computing power, storage capacity and Cloud Computing, among others. AI-based technologies are already emerging as a key component of proactive tools and applications being used to help people lead better lives by improving healthcare, education, finance, agriculture, transportation, and a wide range of other services.

Speaking ahead of the event, the ITU Secretary-General Dr Houlin Zhao noted that in recent years there has been significant progress in AI technology and called for academia, researchers, industries, Administrations and Governments, UN Agencies, as well as other stakeholders and partners, to facilitate AI development to bring the benefits of AI to all.

While there are tremendous benefits delivered by AI in our lives, the world has to pay attention to the potential challenges posed by the technology. This calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to ensure safer AI applications for all.

In Botswana, stakeholders within the ICT sector, led by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) have converged at Mohembo village to commemorate the WTISD 2018 as well as the Girls in ICT Day 2018. As it has become the culture of the local WTISD commemorations, residents of Mohembo will benefit a windfall of ICTs activities as a way of promoting widespread use of ICTs in Botswana.

As part of the messages of the commemoration, MTC will also touch on the International Girls in ICT Day. Closely related to the WTISD, the Girls in ICT Day is celebrated annually to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs), Under the theme “Expanding horizons, Changing attitudes” International Girls in ICT Day 2018 is not just a global effort to help bridge the digital divide but also an opportunity to encourage young women and girls to pursue studies and careers in
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Participation in ICTs are deemed to provide an enabling environment for girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.

The ITU advocates and promotes the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to ensure women and girls have the necessary skills and tools to fully exploit the benefits of today’s digital economy. With improved access to these transformative technologies, women and girls can benefit from increased employment and business opportunities.

End of Message

For further questions, kindly contact: 
Mr Aaron Nyelesi Tel: 713 137 65 
nyelesi@bocra.org.bw

Organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, the Commonwealth ICT Awards are intended to recognise major achievements in ICTs by member countries and organisations, and to share knowledge amongst Commonwealth ICT stakeholders in key category areas. Held every other year, the first Commonwealth ICT & Industry Awards held in 2016 in London saw the award for Best Universal Access Initiative go to the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority for its wholesale Wi-Fi hotspots in key strategic public areas providing every citizen 30 minutes free browsing every day at a minimum speed of 2 Mbps. Other awards and recognitions went various members, including National Communications Authority of Ghana for Best ICT Policy and Regulatory Initiative for its billing feedback mechanism as well as to UK Ofcom for its support to ICT regulatory capacity development. The Commonwealth ICT Awards 2018 promise to be an even bigger success as the penultimate evening event of the 2018 Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum social programme.

This year, we welcome submissions in the following categories:

Country Awards:

• Universal access initiatives.
• Broadband access initiatives.
• ICT policy and regulatory initiatives.
• Cybersecurity initiatives.
• Spectrum management initiatives.
• Applications (e-health, e-education, e-agriculture and e-commerce).

Industry Awards:

• Universal access initiatives.
• Broadband access initiatives.
• Cybersecurity initiatives.
• Applications (e-health, e-education, e-agriculture and e-commerce).
• Corporate social responsibility.

To enter this awards competition, write to awards@cto.int

Who can participate

This competition is open to government departments, national ICT agencies and industry in Commonwealth countries.

For more details, download the competition’s Terms of Reference

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority invites organisations to submit ICT projects  and initiatives to the 2nd biennial Commonwealth ICT Awards 2018presented by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation. The awards are intended to recognise major achievements in ICTs by member countries and organisations and to share knowledge amongst stakeholders in key areas. The contest is open to entities representing Governments, Public Sector, Private Sectorand Civil Society. Entities can submit projects under the following categories:

Country Awards (open to government and public agencies):

• Universal access initiatives.
• Broadband access initiatives.
• ICT policy and regulatory initiatives.
• Cybersecurity initiatives.
• Spectrum management initiatives.
• Applications (e-health, e-education, e-agriculture and e-commerce).

Industry Awards (open to private sector and civil society):

• Universal access initiatives.
• Broadband access initiatives.
• Cybersecurity initiatives.
• Applications (e-health, e-education, e-agriculture and e-commerce).
• Corporate social responsibility.

More information is available at www.cto.int/ictawards/. Submissions should be received no later than 1 June 2018.

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA/ the Authority) hereby invites companies with substantial experience to submit their proposals for the appointment of a Certifying Agent for Electronic Records.  

The Expression of Interest (EOI) document may be collected at the BOCRA office by interested companies at no cost or it can be downloaded from BOCRA website www.bocra.org.bw. 

Proposals should be hand delivered to BOCRA Head Office at 12:00hrs on Friday 16th March 2018 or such other later date as the Authority may advise in writing, to the following address:

For any further information please contact: 
Procuring Officer: Katlego Ramputswa  368 5500/3685534  
Contact email: procurement@bocra.org.bw

REFERENCE NO. BOCRA/PT/016/2017.2018

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR APPOINTMENT AS A CERTIFYING AGENT FOR ELECTRONIC RECORDS FOR BOTSWANA COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA/ the Authority) hereby invites companies with substantial experience to submit their proposals for the appointment of a Certifying Agent for Electronic Records.  

The Expression of Interest (EOI) document may be collected at the BOCRA office by interested companies at no cost or it can be downloaded from BOCRA website www.bocra.org.bw.

Proposals should be hand delivered to BOCRA Head Office at 12:00hrs on Friday 16th March 2018 or such other later date as the Authority may advise in writing, to the following address:

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority
Plot 50671 Independence Avenue
Private Bag 00495
Gaborone

Tel: +267 368 5500
Fax: +267 395 7976

For any further information please contact:

Procuring Officer: Katlego Ramputswa 368 5500                   

Contact email: procurement@bocra.org.bw

Click here for EOI - Certifying Agent for Electronic Records for BOCRA

It is important for the public to be familiar with this Broadcasters Code of Practice in order to know what should be expected from the licensed Broadcasters in provision of the broadcasting service. The Code is presented below.

Call For Submission of Retail Internet Prices And Footprint By BOCRA Licensed Internet Service Providers... Click here for more details. 

Download RSP Data Collection template...

Pursuant to Section 94 of the Communications Regulatory Authority Act of 2012, the Minister responsible for communications may make regulations under the Act which is necessary or convenient for the better carrying out of objects and purposes of the Act, or to give force and effect to its provision.

A copy of the latest Draft Regulations are available on the BOCRA website (www.bocra.org.bw) and the Authority hereby invites you, as a stakeholder, to make written submissions on the Draft Regulations to the Authority, on or before the 28th February 2018, after which the Authority may invite you for a consultative workshop.

Written submissions may be sent to:

BOCRA offices at Plot 50671; 
Private Bag 00495
Gaborone; 
or via email to 

legal@bocra.org.bw

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Honourable O.K. Mokaila has appointed Mr Martin Mokgware as the Chief Executive of Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA/the Authority) with effect from 1 December 2017.