The report examines the transition between fixed and mobile telecommunications in Botswana.
The telecommunications subscription structure of Botswana in 2024 comprised 98.0% mobile cellular subscriptions and 2.0% fixed telephone subscriptions. Mobile penetration exceeded fixed-line penetration by 160.7 subscriptions per 100 people. Mobile subscriptions first exceeded fixed subscriptions in 2000. Fixed broadband penetration was 7.4 subscriptions per 100 people in 2024.
Based on comparable data for 2024, Botswana ranked 141st of 213 economies by fixed telephone penetration and 21st of 214 by mobile penetration.
Botswana Fixed and Mobile Telecommunications by Year
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Fixed telephone subscriptions (IT.MLT.MAIN); Fixed telephone subscriptions, per 100 people (IT.MLT.MAIN.P2); Mobile cellular subscriptions (IT.CEL.SETS); Mobile cellular subscriptions, per 100 people (IT.CEL.SETS.P2); Population, total (population); Individuals using the Internet, % of population (IT.NET.USER.ZS); Fixed broadband subscriptions, per 100 people (IT.NET.BBND.P2).
License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
About the Indicators
Fixed telephone subscriptions. The total number of active fixed (landline) telephone subscriptions.
Fixed telephone subscriptions, per 100 people. Fixed telephone subscriptions per 100 people.
Mobile cellular subscriptions. The total number of active mobile cellular telephone subscriptions.
Mobile cellular subscriptions, per 100 people. Subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service, per 100 people; counts active SIM subscriptions, not unique subscribers.
Individuals using the Internet, % of population. The share of a country’s population that used the Internet from any device, including mobile phones, in the last three months.
Fixed broadband subscriptions, per 100 people. Subscriptions to high-speed wired Internet access, per 100 people; counts active subscriptions, not unique users or households.