MASCOM: Connecting More Than Ever, All Over Botswana

Sub-Saharan economic growth is predicted to reach 4% in 2025, up from 2.4% in 2023 and 3% in 2024. Nations with a decent outlook include the traditional African powerhouses of Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa, with Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia and more showing signs of healthy and sustainable expansion.

A trend among these countries is a strong digital ecosystem – good connectivity, relatively strong data access (though expensive in some markets), and a culture of digital interaction. Even if not quite fully established yet, the potential and ambition to embrace modern connectivity has helped to buoy economic success and GDP expansion.

Critical minerals and natural resources are also key drivers with extraction, refining, and marketing requiring more and more input from digital tools. The impact results in innovation like almost nowhere else in the world.

Botswana is aiming to significantly improve its connectivity environment as it aims for high-income country status. Historically well-governed and politically stable, challenges remain but digital acceptance and rollout will aid in development. Vision 2036 is the latest iteration of a robust national development plan aiming for prosperity for all. Part of the journey will see gradual development of the ICT sector as government departments hunt for efficiency improvements through digitisation and the private sector follows suit. One goal is to ‘foster a conducive environment for transacting over digital platforms’ through non-discriminatory, affordable and equitable access to communications services by Batswana.

Spearheading this industry is Mascom, a telecoms provider established in 1998 with the vision of being a community oriented corporate citizen that provides nationwide coverage. Today, Mascom boasts a subscriber list of morthat is e than 1.5 million in a country of just over 2.5 million.

The company’s key services include both prepaid and post-paid options for voice and SMS, mobile internet, broadband, and other products specifically designed for the Botswanan market.

“We offer the widest coverage in Botswana,” Mascom opens.

“Over the years, Mascom has steadily deployed its services across Botswana,” the company continues. “Small villages and communities around Botswana are now connected to telecommunications. Mascom reaches almost all corners of Botswana, and prides itself in being able to reliably connect Batswana with each other nationally and internationally.”

Today, even in the rural areas of the country, Mascom customers can connect to the world through the MyPocket Wi-Fi Router. This initiative sees a Hisense U70 router put in the hands of customers, allowing them to connect up to 16 devices, giving speeds of up to 150Mbps. At the same time, the offer sees free data awarded and users need only part with P199. “MyPocket WiFi allows you to stay connected no matter where you are,” the company states.

MYZAKA PAY

In May 2024, a new initiative was launched to diversify the business and solve more problems for the communities in which Mascom operates. Digital payments and the use of mobile money wallets have long been accepted in sub-Saharan Africa, and integrating with this market is an obvious opportunity for the big mobile, data and network providers. 

Mascom’s MyZakaPay offering allows users to quickly and seamlessly transact using their phones. Currently available through USSD mechanics, with more systems to follow, the product has been designed to be highly user-friendly.

One goal of MyZakaPay is to enhance financial and digital inclusion in a country where 90% of the population is covered by a mobile network but only around half are active mobile broadband users. The product is also helping to build the strength of SMMEs which are now equipped like never before to accept payments from customers. 

“Mascom recognises the importance of financial inclusion for all individuals, especially the unbanked and underbanked population. MyZakaPay bridges the gap between those without access to traditional banking services and the advantages of electronic transactions, empowering them to actively participate in the modern economy with the added benefits of convenience and security,” the company says. 

Through 2025, Mascom has made its ambitions clear: to establish MyZakaPay as a widely accepted and trusted payment method in the market. “The service is set to empower individuals and businesses, fostering a more connected and prosperous society,” says Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Shimboy Kgosiemang. 

Mascom intends the product to be used to ease multiple pain points in the market including paying salaries for field workers, settling bills for water and electricity, facilitating school fee payments, purchasing goods and services, and streamlining payments for health services, among others. 

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Boipelo Semere-Matenge, was thrilled to announce the launch of MyZakaPay, saying that it is a secure, flexible, affordable, anywhere, anytime digital pay solution.

“As a proudly Botswana company, Mascom is aligned to this endeavour and we are excited about the immense benefits to be unlocked by SMMEs through the widespread adoption and usage of MyZakaPay,” she said. 

SMART SATELLITE SERVICE

In April, Mascom was busy addressing the needs of the rural communities across Botswana’s more than 580,000 square kilometres, especially business customers who require stable and reliable communications to run their organisations safely and effectively. 

The Smart Satellite Service was trialled through 2023 and yielded fantastic results for Mascom and its customers. The concept involves deploying satellites at ‘off-grid’ locations and pulling network connectivity at all times. 

“We are trying to find ways to ensure no one is left unconnected,” said Kgosiemang.

“Botswana is a very challenging country because it’s a very vast land with people sparsely populated across the country, so it is very important that we find innovative ways of delivering internet – high speed internet – to the most remote of places. Remote places include farms, lodges, game parks, and even retail businesses.” 

Thabani Machacha of Chandima Farms agreed that the idea is a winner. “I spend four days on the farm, but when I am not here, I need to communicate with my employees. Without proper connectivity, we have a problem. Before the Mascom satellite, my team were climbing trees to try and pick up network. Now, they can talk to me anytime, and the communication is very smooth. Also, when I am here, I need to communicate with my family and my employees need to communicate with their families. This has improved morale and people are happier on the farm,” he said. 

Across both of these initiatives, and the many more that Mascom is busy rolling out, the central focus of advancing digital and financial inclusion in Botswana remains strong. The business is staunchly committed to the government agenda of growth, and has been clear in its investments and partnerships that it is in Botswana for the benefit of Botswana as the country gears up to support the next 50 years of advancement.

“All of these services are supported by Mascom’s continuous network and IT investments,” the company closes, proud of its achievement of more than 54% market share thanks to consistent delivery and a reputation for solving problems.