The Internet in Botswana is used by approximately 87.2% of the population, as of 2023. There has been a massive increase in internet users since 2013 when only 30% of the population of Botswana was found to use the internet. This is notably higher than the percentage of internet users in Africa as a whole, which is around 43%. For reference, in 2023, the global statistic for internet users is 66%.
Statistics
Internet top-level domain: .bw"Botswana", World Fact Book, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 7 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014. Internet users: 323,368 users, 15% of the population (2013). 241,272 users, 148th in the world; 11.5% of the population, 166th in the world (2012);Calculated using penetration rate and population data from "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012" , Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013"Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012", International Telecommunications Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013 120,000 users, 154th in the world (2009); 80,000 users (2007).
Internet broadband: 16,407 fixed broadband subscriptions, 134th in the world; 0.8% of the population, 143rd in the world;"Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012" , Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013. 348,124 wireless broadband subscriptions, 102nd in the world; 16.6% of the population, 76th in the world."Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012" , Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013. The average internet subscription costs $60.72, 108th in the world. Internet hosts: 1,806 hosts (2012); 6,374 hosts (2008). Internet IPv4 addresses: 100,096 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 47.7 addresses per 1000 people (2012).Select Formats , Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.Population, The World Factbook, United States Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012. Internet service providers: 53 ISPs (2020); 11 ISPs (2001); 2 ISPs (1999).
ADSL
Botswana Telecom rolled out ADSL in early 2006. Current residential ADSL offerings include speeds from 512 kbit/s to 4096 kbit/s with prices from 292 to 863 BWP (~32 to ~97 US$)."Broadband Retail Prices", Botswana Telecommunications Corporation, 1 November 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
ADSL has been introduced in the following areas: Gaborone, Tlokweng, Mogoditshane, Molepolole, Phakalane, Francistown, Lobatse, Palapye, Maun, Kasane, Selibe-Phikwe, Letlhakane, Jwaneng, and Orapa.
Internet censorship and surveillance
There are no known government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms. The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press and the government generally respects these rights. The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, correspondence, or browsing pornographic websites, and the government generally respects these prohibitions in practice."Botswana", Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
See also
Botswana Botswana Internet Exchange Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority Media of Botswana Telecommunications in Botswana
References
External links Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). "Botswana", Africa south of the Sahara: Selected Internet resources, Stanford University Libraries. "Computer and Internet Use Among Families: A Case of Botswana" , Rama Srivastava and Ishaan Srivastava, BVICAM’S International Journal of Information Technology (New Delhi, 2008).