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.