UbuntuNet Alliance is pleased to announce that the Botswana Research and Education Network (BOTSREN) has successfully upgraded its connectivity on the regional network to 20 Gbps, marking a significant milestone in Botswana’s digital research and education landscape. This upgrade strengthens Botswana’s integration into the regional and global research and education ecosystem and reinforces the Alliance’s commitment to delivering high-capacity, reliable connectivity across Eastern and Southern Africa.
This achievement has been made possible through the continued support of the AfricaConnect project, which has been instrumental in expanding advanced network infrastructure for National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) across Africa. AfricaConnect’s investments have enabled BOTSREN to scale its capacity in line with growing demand from universities, research institutions, and innovation hubs in Botswana.
For Botswana, the 20 Gbps upgrade represents a major step forward in supporting data-intensive research, digital learning, cloud services, and international scientific collaboration. Institutions connected through BOTSREN will benefit from improved performance, lower latency, and enhanced access to global research platforms, helping to accelerate national development priorities in education, science, and innovation.
At a continental level, BOTSREN’s increased capacity contributes to a stronger and more resilient African Research and Education Network fabric. By enhancing regional interconnectivity, this upgrade supports cross-border collaboration, shared research infrastructure, and Africa’s active participation in global research initiatives, aligning with UbuntuNet Alliance’s mission to empower knowledge communities across the region.
Commenting on the milestone, the BOTSREN CEO Mr. Tshepo Tsheko said: “Upgrading to 20 Gbps is a strategic investment in Botswana’s future. With the support of UbuntuNet Alliance and the AfricaConnect project, we are enabling our research and education institutions to operate at global standards, collaborate without barriers, and drive innovation that benefits our nation and the wider African community.”
UbuntuNet Alliance congratulates BOTSREN on this important advancement and looks forward to continued collaboration in strengthening high-capacity research and education connectivity across Africa.