The Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) which was converted from a statutory body into a public company limited by shares, and renamed Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited on 1st November 2012, has a new high level structure in place.
Though the corporation is still 100 percent government owned, the expectation is that following completion of asset separation, an Initial Public Offering (IPO) will be made resulting in 49 percent of the company being listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange and held by Batswana or Batswana owned entities.
Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) is about adopting a new way of doing business. It involves bundling fixed, mobile and content service elements to offer solutions that either improve the efficiency of Botswana’s businesses or enrich the lifestyle of our people and our visitors.
FMC has implications for our Systems, Processes, Skills, Networks and the way we organise ourselves. A transition to an FMC Business is a journey that will take some time. The move towards FMC does not mean that we will stop creating or supporting single product offers or that we will not work with our partners and wholesale customers. Simply that our focus, over time, will move towards an FMC service portfolio.
As we embark on that journey, Paul Taylor, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will continue to lead the organisation as it moves towards its vision of a fixed mobile convergent company.
Having worked as business leader in over sixty countries across four continents, Paul has led IPO’s, privatisations and acquisitions and licence bids across the world.
Anthony Masunga, previously beMOBILE General Manager and most recently acting BTC Group General Manager Commercial has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The company welcomes, Thabo Nkala to the position of General Manager Technology. He joins BTC from Botswana Examinations Council where he was ICT Director. Prior to that, Nkala worked at Botswana Life Insurance and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board amongst other organisations.
BTC is also pleased to announce the appointment of Bambino Masoko to the position of General Manager Sales. Bambino was previously General Manager Home and Office.
Other appointments include that of Masego Mathambo as General Manager Customer Care. Prior to the appointment, she was acting beMOBILE General Manager. Christopher Diswai, the new General Manager responsible for Strategy was previously charged with the delivery of complex projects.
Mokgethi Nyatseng has been promoted to the position of General Manager Wholesale from that of Wholesale Strategy Programme Manager.
Abel Bogatsu, Same Kgosiemang and Kaelo Radira continue in their positions of General Manager Finance, Internal Audit and Company Secretary respectively. Meantime, Masego Ndwapi will act as General Manager Human Resources and Shared Services. All General Managers and the COO will report to the CEO.
We will continue directing our efforts on optimising the organisation by cutting down efficiencies and focusing on the very activities that drive customer satisfaction.
We have committed in our new Corporate Mission Statement to “Delight Our Customers” by achieving our vision of “Simply Being the Best”.
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) was established in 1980 as a body corporate by an Act of Parliament (BTC Act) to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana’s national and international telecommunications services.
In 1996, an amendment of the Telecommunications Act repealed the monopoly of BTC and introduced other service providers in the telecommunications arena.
A Privatisation Policy was born in 2000, through which the Government intended to implement a reform programme to improve the efficiency, productivity and competiveness of the public sector.
(Golekanye Molapisi is BTC Ltd Corporate Communications Manager)