2. Background 2.1 The Authority has responsibility under the Act to: (a) (b) (c) (d) supervise and promote the provision of efficient telecommunication services in Botswana; take all reasonable steps to promote the provision, throughout Botswana, of such telecommunication services as will satisfy all reasonable demands for such services; promote the interests of consumers, purchasers and other users of telecommunication services in respect of the prices charged for, and the quality and variety of, such services and equipment or terminal equipment supplied for the purposes of such services; and promote and maintain competition among persons engaged in commercial activities for or in connection with the provision of telecommunication services, and promote efficiency and economy on the part of persons so engaged. 2.2 The Authority has determined that it is necessary to encourage and/or promote passive infrastructure sharing amongst licensees in order to achieve its purposes as specified in the Act and restated in sub-paragraph (2.1) above. 2.3 These Guidelines proceed from a premise that all operators have the liberty to negotiate passive infrastructure sharing arrangements in accordance with mutually agreed terms. 2.4 These Guidelines are designed and developed to encourage passive infrastructure sharing between operators within a predetermined framework to remove uncertainty and create an environment for better co-operation. 2.5 While the guidelines are specifically directed at the sharing of specified passive infrastructure, the operators are encouraged and may voluntarily adopt the principles contained herein with respect to the sharing of any infrastructure not specifically mentioned herein. 9|Page