Botswana has marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey with the inauguration of the Botswana Kalahari Fibre (BKF) project developed by internet connectivity firm Paratus Botswana.
Botswana Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology deputy permanent secretary Cecil Masiga on Wednesday hailed the BKF route as a triumph for the nation’s people and economy during the project’s launch at Paratus Botswana’s head office in Gaborone.
“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,” Masiga said.
He noted that reliable and high-speed internet connectivity 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-kilometre fibre route from Gaborone all the way to the Namibian border is a ground-breaking project that promises to revolutionise our digital landscape.”
Spanning from the Namibian border to Lobatse in Botswana, the BKF completes the Paratus-built Trans Kalahari Fibre (TKF) route and offers the lowest latency transit path from Johannesburg in South Africa to Swakopmund in Namibia, and onwards to Europe.
Paratus Botswana and Paratus Namibia have worked closely together in a bid to connect South Africa to the Equiano cable in Swakopmund.
By connecting to Equiano in Namibia, the BKF route is expected to enable more product options and will help stimulate economic growth.
Equiano is forecast to more than double internet speeds and increase internet penetration by 7.5 percent by 2027, while acting as a catalyst for considerable growth, job creation and sustainability in both Namibia and the whole southern African region.
