The Botswanan government plans to roll out a high speed and reliable network to improve broadband Internet access to the population from the current 10 percent.

Minister of Transport and Communications Nonofo Molefhi told a communications workshop on Thursday that the national broadband strategy will be formulated through a holistic and coordinated approach by the government.

He said the development of a broadband strategy is an important event as Botswana strives to be among the competitive countries using the technology to revolutionize the way services are delivered.

Broadband access has been recognized worldwide as an accelerator of economic development and increasingly, its connectivity are recognized as enabling major improvements in economic and social well-being in any economy, the minister said.

"It is for this reason that our government made significant investments in national ICT infrastructure development and international connectivity," he told the workshop for the development of a National Broadband Strategy.

He said the past 15 years have been an extraordinary time for the development of ICTs in Botswana. During the period, the country liberalized its telecommunications market by licensing mobile phone service providers.

"With the mobile revolution, Botswana has brought ICTs and their benefits within reach of virtually all of the country's people in every district and in most villages," he said.

Botswana's three mobile phone service providers with three million subscriptions indicating a penetration level of over 150 percent. Therefore the minister said the wireless technology would continue playing a significant role in the delivery of broadband services in Botswana.

He said he is concerned that despite heavy investment in ICT infrastructure, there is still some "digital divide" with limited users having access to the Internet.

"While we cherish the unprecedented growth of mobile services, the same cannot be said about high-speed Internet or data services and only a paltry 10 percent of Botswana's population, particularly in urban centers, uses the Internet connections while the rest of the country's people still have no access to the Internet at all, let alone a broadband connection," said the minister.

Molefhi said his ministry advocates for a national rollout of broadband infrastructure and equitable and affordable access for all people. In light of this, he said it is very imperative that Botswana replicates the mobile miracle for the advancement of broadband access on a national scale.