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Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2002 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 84-91
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Research Article

Utilization of Internet Facilities in Botswana An Empirical Investigation

S.K. Massimo, Paul T. Mburu and Kiio Mutua

ABSTRACT

The rapid growth of internet access in Africa has largely been confined to the capital cities of African nations with 16 countries having POPs in about 100 cities and towns. We are living in the information age, the “third” industrial revolution. Information technology is changing the nature of work; providing new opportunities to serve customers even better (Quinn & Humble 1993). However, this revolution is slow in coming to the African nations, as the case was with the second industrial revolution. As much as the African countries would like to venture in the e-commerce, the ultimate traders will be the individual entrepreneurs, who will have to seize the opportunities provided by the internet. For entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities offered by the internet, they have to be aware of its existence and have knowledge that facilities its usage. Thus the information technology cannot be divorced from the human element since its advancement will be dictated by cultural and demographic factors of the market (Mosime 2000).
The study aimed at determining the level of Internet awareness in Botswana, determine customer level of satisfaction towards the service and pricing of Internet services and customer expectation of quality in the selection of Internet service providers and Internet cafes, especially in Gaborone (capital city) by using statistically accepted methods of surveying and making recommendations aimed at benefiting the prospective and business community, policy makers and the population as whole. The respondents included office employees, housewives, management, bleu color workers and secondary school students. The finding indicates that the frequency of internet access was done on weekly basis by7 the biggest percentage rather than on a daly. More than 60% of the respondent was aware of internet presence although active users were about 33%. The number of telephone lines compared to the population of Botswana indicates a connectivity ratio of 1:6, which is among the highest in Africa. Given the current level of awareness and sufficient support and motivation, the country could carry out lucrative businesses activities by utilizing the available facilities.
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