Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is a converged telecommunications operator offering fixed (voice & data), mobile (voice & data), broadband services, cloud and fintech solutions. It was established in 1980 as a 100% Government owned entity.
It is the first state owned enterprise to be privatised in 2016 and is the only public-listed telecommunications company on the Botswana Stock Exchange with shareholding of (54.16%) by Botswana Government and 45.84% issued shares held by the public.
Retail shareholders account for 99.06% of the number of shareholders at 39,888, a testament to BTC`s citizen economic empowerment agenda.
History
BTC was established in 1980 to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana's national and international telecommunications services. BTC was a parastatal in which the Botswana government held 100% equity. BTC was the only telecommunications provider in Botswana until 1996 when an amendment of the BTC Act removed the monopoly of BTC and allowed indirect competition from two cellular companies, Mascom and Orange Botswana.[1]
BTC's network is composed of an all-digital microwave and fibre optic system with digital exchanges at the main centres. The current network comprises 7,300 kilometres of microwave radio and fibre optic links between 12 main processors, each serving a specific area of the country.