The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Botswana Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Cecil Masiga said that the recently launched Botswana Kalahari Fiber route (BKF) is a triumph for the people of Botswana and for the country’s economy. He was speaking at an event held at Paratus Botswana Head Office in Gaborone, to officially mark the opening of the BKF route. Last month, leading telecommunications and network services provider, Paratus Botswana announced that it had completed the last leg of the new Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) route. Also attending the event to celebrate this connectivity breakthrough were Barney Harmse, Paratus Group Executive Chairman; Gert Duvenhage, Paratus Group Chief Operations Officer; MD of Paratus Botswana, Shawn Bruwer; and executives from BTC, Mascom and Orange.
Paratus Group Exco Gert Duvenhage and Barney Harmse with Paratus Botswana MD Shawn Bruwer and Deputy Permanent Secretary, Cecil Masiga
A total of 840 kms of fiber was laid between the Namibian border and Lobatse and was activated last month. Representing an investment of approximately BWP 70 million in Botswana, the BKF is the largest significant investment in its own infrastructure by Paratus Botswana to date. The BKF completes the last leg of the Paratus built Trans Kalahari Fiber (TKF) route which runs from Johannesburg to Swakopmund in Namibia. The new route creates the lowest latency primary transit path through Botswana and Namibia to Europe. The new BKF will connect Botswana and neighbouring countries to various international subsea cables, and to the rest of the world.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Communications Ministry, Cecil Masiga said at the event: “The launch of the Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) route by Paratus Botswana is not just a testament to the power of innovation but also a pivotal step towards achieving our national goals as outlined in Vision 2036. In today’s fast-paced world, reliable and high-speed internet connectivity is not a luxury but a necessity. It is the backbone of modern economies, a vital tool for businesses, and an essential service for our communities. The strategic endeavour by Paratus Botswana to lay an 840-kilometer fiber route from Gaborone all the way to the Namibian border, is a ground-breaking project that promises to revolutionize our digital landscape.
He also stated that “Organisations like Paratus Botswana are the pillars upon which we build our digital future. Their efforts in providing cutting-edge infrastructure and connectivity solutions play a critical role in transforming our nation. By ensuring that businesses and communities have access to reliable internet services, they empower Botswana to engage in the global digital economy, access educational resources, and improve their quality of life.”
Paratus Botswana Managing Director, Shawn Bruwer
MD of Paratus Botswana, Shawn Bruwer says: “The completion of this fiber route is yet another integral intervention in our commitment to provide the highest quality network services and to the Paratus Group’s overall vision to transform Africa through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service.”
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Cecil Masiga and guests attending tour of the Paratus Office
Following last year’s announcement that the pan-African telecommunications group, Paratus, commenced reselling Starlink, Paratus Botswana is pleased to announce that the highly anticipated low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connection solution is now available in Botswana. The Botswana government recently confirmed the Starlink license approval, an event for which Paratus Botswana has been preparing for several months.
Paratus Botswana, the leading telecommunications and network services provider, announces that the last leg of its fiber route has now been completed to create the new Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) route. A total of 840 kms of fiber was laid between the Namibian border and Lobatse and was activated at the end of March 2024.
