Tech in Africa
One Wireless, a telecommunications startup will deploy macro Wi-Fi solutions across the country. The idea is to provide fast speeds, affordable rates, and reliable connectivity. This “Wi-Fi” blanket will cover several cities countrywide among them Gaborone, Palapye, Francistown, and Maun.
The wireless technology is also known as ‘mass Wi-Fi’, guarantees users fast internet speeds. This should benefit the public, IOT and OTT providers, infrastructure, and Saas providers. The new investments are poised to create jobs.
Botswana’s population is 1.8 million and is affected by slow, expensive, unreliable GSM and fixed internet connections. This has deprived the public of affordable and seamless internet connections affecting its growth and opportunities.
This is in reference to an A4AI study held back in 2018 that shows the country’s broadband cost as the highest across Africa. The global average cost of 1GB internet connectivity is US$8.53 while the cost in Botswana is US$14.12. Speedtest.net puts Botswana at number 101 and a dismal 160 for fixed broadband speeds in December.
One Wireless offers a Macro Wi-Fi Blanket that appeals to mass Wi-Fi adoption and deployment. Thus far, there have been investments in static connections across Botswana majorly focussed on copper, fiber, and other point-to-point. No one has considered a blanket Wi-Fi connection across the city. A few companies have launched hotspots available in airports and malls.
The startup is looking at Jamaica as a success story, where the entire island is blanketed by Wi-Fi.
Source: ITWeb Africa
