MINISTRY OF WORKS, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION 4. INTRODUCTION The information and communication revolution sweeping the world has brought new meaning to the concept of telecommunications. New technologies have drastically lowered the cost of communications equipment and erased the previous boundaries between voice telephony, radio communication, data- and video transmission and broadcasting. The telecommunications industry has over the past decade seen many new actors in the market and state owned telecommunications monopolies are no longer regarded as the only means of providing essential telecommunications services to society. In order to exploit the economic potential of the new technologies and not be left behind in the information race, countries world wide have begun to reassess the structure of their telecommunications industry. The aims, positions and measures outlined in this paper are intended to establish a balanced and realistic policy framework for the restructuring of the telecommunications sector in Botswana in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new global information society. The policy will lay the foundation for an accelerated expansion of services and networks to the benefit of users in the whole country. It is further likely to increase customer focus of the operators, improve services and lead to lower prices. It will diversify the supply of basic services and promote introduction of new technologies e.g. radio technologies as an alternative to wired local networks. 10 TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY FOR BOTSWANA