Liquid Intelligent Technologies aims to expand its fiber optic network across Africa to bridge the digital divide. The company currently claims more than 110,000 km of fiber deployed on the continent.
Pan-African high-speed internet connectivity provider Liquid Intelligent Technologies announced on Thursday, December 12, the completion of the extension of its fiber optic network connecting the towns of Ramatlabama and Ramokgwebana in Botswana. Spanning over 730 kilometers, the network will help improve internet coverage and quality in the country.
“ This fibre optic extension project is a major milestone for Botswana, strengthening the country’s economic hubs and connecting major commercial centres. Access to high-speed connectivity will benefit urban centres and rural communities along the route, while expanding our presence in Botswana and across the continent through the One Africa Digital Network. It will bring additional terabits of capacity and increased resilience to the region ,” said Odirile Tamajobe, CEO of Liquid Botswana.
Accurate data on internet coverage in Botswana is not available. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 77.3% of the population, estimated at 2.67 million by the World Bank, were using the internet as of December 2023. At the same time, 78.3% of the population had access to the internet at home.
While Liquid's network expansion may improve internet coverage in the country, it may not close the digital divide as several barriers can hamper people's adoption of the internet, according to the Global Mobile Phone Association (GSMA).
These include lack of awareness of mobile internet, high cost of compatible devices and data plans, low levels of digital literacy and knowledge, low perception of the relevance of services, security concerns, social norms and unsatisfactory user experience.