Paratus Botswana Unveils SADC Highway to Boost Southern Africa’s Connectivity. Paratus Botswana, a premier telecommunications and network services provider, has announced the launch of a transformative fiber optic route known as the SADC Highway. This ambitious project will span Gaborone, Botswana, through Zimbabwe, to Livingstone, Zambia, offering a vital link in the region’s connectivity infrastructure. The first leg, stretching 500 kilometers from Gaborone to Plumtree, is slated for completion by February 2025.
This development promises to revolutionize rural network coverage by lowering the cost per megabit, making it more accessible for smaller providers to extend services into underserved areas. The initiative reflects Paratus Botswana’s commitment to fostering economic growth and connectivity across the region.
A New Era of Connectivity
The SADC Highway is part of the broader Paratus Group’s Southern Continental Agenda, aimed at integrating Southern Africa’s digital infrastructure. It complements the recently launched Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) route, delivering up to 11 terabits of new capacity to Zimbabwe and Zambia. Importantly, it provides redundancy for existing routes through South Africa, ensuring greater reliability and scalability for businesses and individuals alike.
One of the standout features of the SADC Highway is its direct connection to the Equiano subsea cable at Swakopmund in Namibia via the Trans-Kalahari Fiber (TKF). This alternative route bypasses traditional pathways, such as Beitbridge, offering lower latency and higher capacity, which are critical for emerging markets relying on fast, reliable internet services.
Strengthening Botswana’s Position as a Communications Hub
With the SADC Highway, Paratus Botswana now boasts four major fiber routes: two into South Africa, one into Namibia, and the latest into Zimbabwe and Zambia. This expansion solidifies Botswana’s role as a key communications hub in Southern Africa. As the company’s Country Managing Director noted, the new route is eagerly anticipated, with several operators already securing capacity.
“This investment highlights Paratus’ foresight in addressing regional connectivity needs while contributing to Botswana’s economic diversification. By providing unmatched redundancy and diversity, Paratus is enhancing the region’s digital backbone,” the MD explained.
Driving Economic Growth and Regional Integration
By connecting to the Equiano subsea cable, the SADC Highway will enable lower costs, increased capacity, and higher-quality connectivity. This investment is expected to stimulate economic growth across Southern Africa, empowering businesses and communities with improved access to global markets.
“This project reflects our vision to connect more people across the continent with reliable communications and network services,” said Paratus Botswana’s MD. With the SADC Highway, Paratus is not just building infrastructure but also paving the way for a digitally connected and economically vibrant Southern Africa.
