Describes how widely e-Commerce is used, the primary sectors that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each sector is sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and , reputable, prominent B2B websites.
Last Published: 7/22/2019

Internet usage is on the rise and, according to the Botswana Communication Regulatory Authority 2018 annual report, is now used by some 50,514 fixed broadband subscription and 1,523,545 mobile broadband penetration of the population.  The Global Information Technology Report for 2018,  ranked Botswana 101 out of 139 in its Networked Readiness Index.  The GOB has sought to lower the cost of internet usage by offering substantial discounts to internet providers to lease government-owned fiber-optic cables.  Mobile broadband service using cellular technology is available, and coverage is generally good, but it is slow.  DSL service through fixed lines and a relatively good national fiber backbone is somewhat reliable, but it is expensive relative to U.S. internet costs.  Although the connection to the Seacom (Africa East Coast) has been completed and Botswana has access to the ACE (Africa West Coast) undersea cable, internet speeds continue to be slow.  The GOB has partially privatized the state-owned Botswana Telecommunications Corporation. 

Much of Botswana uses copper telephone wire infrastructure to access the Internet, which limits connections to 2 megabits per second (Mbps), however connections can rise to over 1,000 Mbps.  Botswana Fiber-Optic Networks (BoFiNet), the SOE that controls the country’s fiber optic network, is providing the infrastructure connection upgrades to diplomatic missions and businesses, and will subsequently connect residences with the goal of completing the upgrade in 2020. 

Point of sales for credit card transactions are numerous and widely available with reliable connections to processing centers.

The GOB passed the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act in April 2014.  The law enables the facilitation and regulation of electronic communications and transactions, streamlining commercial and bureaucratic procedures.  The GOB earmarked $15 million for the law’s implementation in its 2014/2015 budget.  Subsequently, parliament enacted an Electronic (Evidence) Records Act in 2014.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.