Botswana Advances Digital Government with 1Gov-1Citizen Platform Upgrade

The Ministry of Communications and Innovation  has outlined a comprehensive plan for advancing Botswana’s digital infrastructure and technology ecosystem in the 2026/2027 financial year. Central to this strategy is the continued digital transformation of public services, underpinned by the Digital Services Act and the establishment of the Digital Services Authority. These initiatives aim to create a “digital-by-default” government by setting standards for service interoperability, cybersecurity, and governance across all Ministries and Agencies. The 1Gov-1Citizen platform has been enhanced to increase e-service access from 33 to 52, covering services such as teacher registration, appointment scheduling, and business facilitation.

Significant investment is being made in networking infrastructure to improve government service delivery. The nationwide rollout of a Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) will enable intelligent, cost-effective connections across 600 priority sites. Expansion of the Government Data Network (GDN) ensures reliable, high-speed connectivity for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including in previously underserved areas. The migration of government systems to the internationally accredited Delta Digital Data Centre (DDDC) and plans for an additional facility outside Gaborone will strengthen national digital resilience, improve cybersecurity, and enhance operational efficiency.

Botswana’s high-speed broadband expansion through the Local Access Network Project has connected over 13,400 government, business, and essential facilities nationwide, with recent rollouts in Ramotswa, Taung, Thamaga, and Moshupa. On the national backbone, BoFiNet has completed critical links and upgraded IP Core and Metro infrastructure, ensuring capacity for increased demand and international connectivity, including a high-capacity fiber link between Johannesburg and Tlokweng. These initiatives aim to create a resilient national digital backbone that supports e-Government and economic diversification.

The Ministry is also advancing cybersecurity with the enactment of the Cybersecurity Bill, establishing a National Cybersecurity Authority to protect critical information infrastructure and foster trust in digital services. Complementary efforts in nuclear and radiation technology, via the Botswana Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (BCNST), aim to safely harness advanced technologies for medicine, agriculture, water management, and industrial applications.

In research and innovation, the government is promoting a knowledge-driven economy through the National Research Agenda and a suite of initiatives in sectors including digital economy, health, energy, and environmental sustainability. Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) is developing solutions such as Foot and Mouth Disease diagnostic kits and next-generation pathogen surveillance. Collaborations with international partners like Japan, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are strengthening capacity in mineral beneficiation, clean energy, and climate monitoring, while the Smart Labs Programme and robotics and coding initiatives are cultivating STEM skills among youth.

Space and satellite technology are gaining prominence with BOTSAT-1’s data commercialization efforts and participation in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), supporting geospatial analytics, precision agriculture, urban planning, and big data research. The Botswana Innovation Fund continues to support 33 innovation projects across ICT, agritech, cleantech, and mining technology, with international partnerships, including the Scalar Decarbonization Fund, further boosting the local innovation ecosystem.

Collectively, these efforts reflect Botswana’s commitment to building a robust, secure, and innovative technological infrastructure that underpins economic diversification, enhances public service delivery, and positions the country as a regional hub for digital innovation.