Business Internet prices go down

33193,Pauline Dikuelo,phpD7C.tmp.jpg,2014/may/19,2014-05-19 15:07:35, | Friday May 30, 2014 00:00

In a statement yesterday, the Corporation said the price cut applied to both new and existing customers.

“The price reduction will help Botswana businesses boost their bottom line and help them improve efficiency and market competitiveness,” the Corporation said.

“Businesses are increasingly dependent on Internet as a communication tool and BTCL, which strives to always be responsive to customer demands, continues to invest in broadband Internet infrastructure, develop innovative products and deliver unbeatable value services.”

For his part, Botswana Internet Service Providers Association chairman, Semere Tekie, welcomed the price reduction and noted that it would allow better service delivery and help grow the industry.

“It is good when we see the prices go down and hopefully the wholesale prices will decline as well,” he said.

“Mind you these prices are based on committing to a three-year fixed contract which is a huge commitment.”

Tekie further urged consumers to focus on the quality of Internet access delivered and to be vigilant on the contracts they engage in as well.

BTCL is the country’s largest provider of Internet access and the price reductions come in the wake of adverse Global Competitiveness and Doing Business reports on the cost and availability of data in Botswana.

A recent Global Competitiveness Report also indicated that smaller countries such as Lesotho had cheaper and more reliable internet than Botswana, a report which the Ministry of Transport and Communications has rubbished as being based on perception and not fact.