The Universal and Access Service Fund (UASF) project brings together local communication industry players and government authorities to ensure that everyone in Botswana has access to essential communications at affordable prices.
The Universal and Access Service Fund (UASF) project brings together local communication industry players and government authorities to ensure that everyone in Botswana has access to essential communications at affordable prices. The flagship project of the UASF strategy is seeking to address the lack of broadband Internet and low bandwidth capacity in government schools across the country. From 2015 to 2018, the UASF will provide financial assistance for the computerization and connection of broadband Internet in public schools in selected rural areas. The School’s Connectivity Project, which is deployed in phases to cover different regions countrywide, seeks to bridge the digital divide that exists between rural and urban areas by providing computers and teaching students ICT skills to help them thrive in the digital world. Phase 1 of the School’s Connectivity Project has covered government schools in Ghanzi, Kgalagadi and Southern districts. Mascom and BTC have upgraded more than 30+ base station from 2G to 3G and LTE networks to provide schools with at least 5Mbps of broadband connectivity. This is enabling access to communication services to move ICT education forward in these rural areas. For example, following the completion of the project in Ghanzi, a total of 67 Primary Schools will benefit from using ICT that will translate into better opportunities for the future.
Related SDGs:
