Internet subscription fees remain high in Botswana. For example, 10GB of data can cost 1,400 pesos ($103), a significant amount considering the country’s minimum wage is 1,500 pesos ($111). This pricing structure has historically limited access to the internet for many people, especially young people, despite growing demand.
To address this issue, Botswana launched the Smart Bots initiative in 2019 to install free Wi-Fi routers in public areas. Five years later, the project has been a resounding success, attracting over 1.6 million users. As a result, internet penetration is expected to soar from 42% in 2019 to 77% by 2024, with Smart Bots playing a key role in improving access for low-income groups.
Offering speeds of up to 10Mbps, SmartBots routers have been installed in over 1,100 public facilities, including clinics, schools and dikgotras (traditional courtyards), which serve an average of over 130,000 people on a daily basis. The government now aims to extend this connectivity to over 500 villages.
Botswana’s small and dispersed population of 2.4 million people exacerbates the challenges of providing communications infrastructure, resulting in high costs that telecommunications companies must pass on to consumers.
Kago and Tumelo, both 15 and in their eighth grade, told their parents they use the smartbot as an educational resource. But what they enjoy most is watching soccer highlights on YouTube and browsing TikTok. Thanks to the smartbot, the teens now have unparalleled access to the internet.
“I come here every night because there’s free internet, no password needed and it’s close to home so I can stay out late,” Tumelo told TechCabal.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Ponzo Psoytsile, spoke of the broader goal: “Our main mission is to connect all the settlements in the country before expanding into the more isolated agriculturally intensive areas.”
Over time, SmartBots has attracted a diverse user base, from students to seniors, who use SmartBots for a variety of purposes, including accessing social media, applying for jobs, downloading entertainment, and even trading forex, which is becoming increasingly popular among Botswana’s youth due to high unemployment.
Daniel, 21, is a regular visitor to the Tshwaragano Clinic’s Smartbot hotspot at around 5.30pm after work. He visits the spot at least four times a week and surfs the internet late into the night. He mainly uses the free service for social media, phone updates and to develop his side business, forex trading.
“The free internet is beneficial for me as I’m learning forex trading, and my friends believe that with the right knowledge, it can be a quick way to make money,” Daniel explained to TechCabal.
However, the SmartBots service does have its drawbacks: it runs on a home router, so speeds vary depending on the number of users. To avoid speed throttling, most users, including students, prefer to use the service during off-peak hours, such as early in the morning or late at night, when fewer people are online.
Mooketsi, 55, is a regular visitor to the Monarch Gotra Smartbot hotspot around 7pm, when the crowds of students start to thin out. He connects to the WiFi at least three times a week to access revision material for his 11-year-old daughter, who is preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
“I want my daughter to be successful and ultimately go to college, so these materials that I’m downloading will be very beneficial to her,” he explained to TechCabal.
While the convenience of SmartBots’ open Wi-Fi is undeniable, cybersecurity experts warn of the inherent risks that come with such networks: The lack of a password or any form of user authentication increases the likelihood of cyberattacks.
“The network has no password protection or verification, so if a malicious individual gains access to the router, they can easily harm users,” said cybersecurity expert Larona Oreville.
Officials at the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology have yet to respond to inquiries about the cybersecurity issues surrounding smartbots, but users appear unfazed by the security risks and prefer to disrupt internet access above all else.
As one user put it, “Le rona re bata tshwana le bana ba malwapa a mangwe,” which roughly translates to “we want to be connected like the rest of the world.”
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