Mr Mokalake said this during the be Mobile launch at Letlhakane on Friday stating that the expansion of the be Mobile services across the country had benefited Batswana.
"Since we are connected through various technologies, our economy can only benefit in that telecommunications services draw people to locations and attract developments and I am sure you will agree that recent developments make this area a hub for the region," he said.
The gesture by the two parastatals, be Mobile and BotswanaPost to partner towards progress and citizen empowerment, he said, must be emulated.
He said through the partnership, be Mobile services and products would now be available in all post offices where the mobile operator enjoys network coverage.
Civil servants, he said, prefer to work in areas where there are amenities and since Letlhakane has such services, government and other employees would not shun transfers to the region.
Mr Mokalake explained that this would result in other industries or suppliers setting business centres to service the residents adding that this would in turn create jobs intended to further improve the living standards of the people of Boteti.
Concerning the education field, Mr Mokalake said cellphones and the Internet services were tools that could be used especially in long distance learning stating that many people have started to leverage on the Internet to improve programmes and courses geared towards the students. Teachers, he said, could also keep in touch with their students and send assignments via text messages through the be Mobile network.
Mr Mokalake stated that those in the tourism industry would attest to the fact that telecommunication is crucial as it helps in contacting clients, make and confirm bookings.
"As we are close to Makgadikgadi Pans, a tourism attraction of note, services such as those provided by beMobile are crucial," he added.
Competition in the industry, he said, has brought about heightened expectations from the consumers stating that they have seen some improvements and changes with consumers getting value for money as they were offered competitive prices that would not leave a hole in their pockets.
As consumers, Mr Mokalake said, they see improved economic efficiency in terms of lower communication costs adding that call rates have been reduced significantly and be Mobile had to be commended for making the sector more competitive and forcing other providers to offer more to the consumer.
To promote and bridge the digital divide, the government has committed to a development agenda by passing the National ICT Policy (Maitlamo).
The policy, he said, was to provide Botswana with a roadmap to drive socio-economic development and cultural transformation.
Maitlamo serves to provide access to information technologies in order to allow Batswana to access e-government services.
Through Nteletsa II infrastructure development project, government would bring telecommunication services to rural villages.
Acting chief executive officer of the BotswanaPost, Ms Setshedi Botlhole-Mmopi urged the private companies, government departments and parastatals to utilise their courier services to counteract the challenges they are facing in delivering their mail and goods on time.
BotswanaPost, Ms Botlhole-Mmopi said was playing a pivotal role in boosting the economy of this country noting they were progressing well in finding different ways of developing their services.
Ms Botlhole -Mmopi stated that they have opened a Mail and Exchange Centre, which she said would hasten the sorting of 35 000 mails per hour. BOPA
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Quelle/Source: Republic of Botswana, 14.09.2009
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