The challenge
Botswana faced persistent obstacles to achieving universal internet access, including weak competition, affordability issues, limited infrastructure in underserved regions, and misaligned regulatory and policy frameworks. The World Bank sought a focused assessment to understand market gaps and identify high-impact reforms to expand access and improve affordability.
Project outline
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Evaluated the scalability and impact of the national SmartBots programme as a mechanism to drive digital inclusion.
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Conducted market and demand-side analysis to establish baseline conditions and identify unmet needs.
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Reviewed policy, regulatory, and legislative frameworks shaping broadband deployment and market performance.
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Performed benchmarking and gap analysis to compare Botswana’s ecosystem with regional and global best practices.
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Developed targeted, actionable recommendations for market reforms, technology adoption, and regulatory improvements to enhance nationwide internet access and affordability.
Our impact
The study provided a clear pathway for accelerating universal broadband access in Botswana. The recommendations helped policymakers prioritise reforms, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and leverage public-sector demand to stimulate investment and expand infrastructure coverage. The work supported Botswana’s long-term digital transformation objectives by identifying practical, high-impact opportunities to improve competition, service quality, and affordability.
Duration of engagement: December 2022 – August 2023