Business

BoFiNet seeks to reduce last mile costs

BoFiNet chief executive officer, Mabua Mabua reiterated the convenience and reliability of this last mile service. 

“FTTx offers end-users a reliable internet connection that can support high internet speeds and ensure that Batswana fully benefit from the investment that the Botswana government has made to increase and enhance broadband connectivity,” he explained.

Last mile refers to the distance between the telecommunications operator network from the demarcated core network to where the consumer premises are. “The process typically consists of laying down the fibre or deploying alternative technology such as radio wireless equipment to facilitate connection to the final destination,” BoFiNet said.

In the instance of BoFiNet’s deployment of FTTx the ‘x’ denotes building with future plans to extend this to other areas even closer.

Currently almost 500 sites have been covered in such areas as government offices, schools, shopping centres, and many other densely populated sites in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane. According to BoFiNet, the expected reduction in high costs of covering the last mile should see an anticipated impact of growth in broadband penetration due to affordability as the cost trickle down to consumers through their service providers.

It said FTTx technology is a platform for innovations, which provides service providers with an opportunity to develop services and which can further enhance consumer experiences and improve efficiencies of doing business.

“These may be realised through high speed internet and other internet demanding applications such as supporting live streaming, downloads of large files, video conferencing, e-Commerce and entertainment platforms at the click of a button,” BoFiNet said.

It further indicated that the opportunities brought by FTTx are aimed at changing the market dynamics with anticipation to see development by service providers to improve service to end-users, which will open up many possibilities for Batswana, to bring us on par with the world.

“This will also ensure that BoFiNet as a wholesale telecommunication operator is delivering on their mandate to ensure that Batswana have equal access to world-class, reliable and affordable internet services through the development of the telecommunications infrastructure,” it said.

At the launch chairman of BoFiNet, Ratsela Mooketsi was quoted as saying that the primary objectives of the wholesale Wi-Fi project and FTTx are to stimulate internet usage and increase broadband connectivity by expanding the broadband network in the country.

“This will lead to the realisation of the National Broadband Strategy initiatives, provide a platform for innovative services provided by Service Providers through affordable internet rates or prices to the citizens of Botswana,” he said.

BoFiNet stated that it is imperative that ICT players and stakeholders, service providers work together to utilise these development within their different mandates and operational regimes to harness and extract the value built and translate it to real benefit for Batswana.

“Equally important is a collective voice of the consumers in understanding the implications of these telecommunications developments and demanding from their Service Providers relevant products and services at high standards of service quality commensurate with the cost of such services,” it said.