The report by three consultants says that BPC should be granted a licence to operate telecommunications services because the current legal framework is capable of accommodating the arrangement without an amendment. The report by three ICT consultants, Setics based in South Africa, Progressus Corporation of France and ICT Consultants of Botswana was prepared for the defunct Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), the predecessor of Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA).
The report said BPC management undertook a feasibility study to assess the viability of establishing an entity that would use the excess fibre optic cable network to provide telecommunications services. The study reviewed various models and concluded that such an undertaking would be viable. Their preferred model is that of a Public Telecommunications Operator (PTO). BPC owns 850km of fibre optic cable, which covers most of the major urban areas and large villages on the eastern side of the country. The report stated that BPC management said they made submissions to the board, the government and BTA requesting authorisation to use the excess capacity in their fibre optic network to provide telecommunications services.
