MTN has launched the SDIA (Software-Defined Intelligent Access), a cutting-edge internet solution aimed at bolstering Botswana’s digital economy and improving operational uptime for local businesses.
This initiative seeks to address ongoing last-mile connectivity challenges across the country, where internet penetration currently stands at around 73%, according to the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority.
Even with this advancement, many businesses—especially small and medium enterprises and organisations in rural areas—continue to struggle with network reliability and uptime.
MTN SDIA utilises Ethica’s CloudAccess platform to enable enterprises to seamlessly switch between multiple internet connections in the event of a failure, ensuring continuous operational flow.
The system also aggregates bandwidth from multiple providers, significantly enhancing speed, reliability, and application performance across dispersed business networks.
Alan Zimmermann, CEO of Ethica, praised MTN Business Botswana for its leadership in transforming connectivity in the region.
“By integrating CloudAccess into their service offerings, they are enabling customers to fully trust the internet as the backbone of modern business,” he remarked.
Oteng Mogomela, head of sales and marketing at MTN Business Botswana, emphasised that this collaboration is vital to MTN’s strategy for driving the country’s digital transformation.
“This initiative transcends mere connectivity. Our enterprise clients expect their operations to continue seamlessly, even if an internet link goes down. CloudAccess empowers us to meet those expectations—reliably and at scale,” he highlighted.
MTN Business Botswana, part of the larger MTN Group, serves major clients including Debswana, Stanbic Bank Botswana, and Botswana Post. At the same time, service providers and enterprises in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Canada also utilise Ethica’s CloudAccess technology.
The introduction of MTN SDIA is intended to enhance business continuity, support remote work, and strengthen Botswana’s digital economy’s resilience.
“Intelligent connectivity is essential for creating an inclusive and prosperous digital future, and that’s the vision we are striving for in Botswana,” stated Mogomela.
