Namibian telecommunications company DemshiTelco is planning a major regional expansion requiring between N$1.5 billion and N$2 billion in first-phase investment, with Botswana serving as the launch pad for its ambition to operate in seven Southern African countries by 2030, according to Managing Director Werner Shilunga.
Shilunga said the company’s regional rollout strategy extends beyond its operations in Namibia and Botswana to include Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, targeting a combined market of more than 100 million people.
“Our regional rollout plan targets Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in addition to Namibia and Botswana. This will require a massive investment of between N$1.5 billion and N$2 billion during the first phase of the rollout,” Shilunga said.
The expansion comes as DemshiTelco accelerates the deployment of its open-access fibre network in Francistown, Botswana, where construction began at the start of June 2026.
According to Shilunga, the first phase of the project is targeting 3,000 homes passed, primarily focused on the city’s central business district, with completion expected by the end of August.
Despite the ongoing construction, Shilunga said the network would begin serving customers earlier because the company’s point of presence, located at the Mascom Wireless data centre in Francistown’s CBD, is already operational.
“Clients will be connected from the beginning of July while we continue to deploy the network to cover the 3,000 homes passed,” he said.
DemshiTelco is also in advanced discussions with several internet service providers to conclude master service agreements that would allow them to use the company’s open-access fibre infrastructure to deliver broadband services to end-users.
For the remainder of 2026 and into mid-2027, the company intends to focus on expanding coverage throughout Francistown before entering additional markets.
“Francistown has well over 40,000 homes, and our plan is to deploy fibre across the entire city,” Shilunga said.
Beyond Francistown, DemshiTelco has already secured wayleave approvals in Maun, Phakalane and Tlokweng, which are expected to become its next expansion destinations should demand for fibre infrastructure remain strong.
Shilunga said the Botswana operation is conducted through Demshi Telco (Pty) Ltd, which obtained a telecommunications licence from the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) in 2025 and operates from offices in Gaborone.
The company is also building its local workforce in Botswana by recruiting fibre technicians, network technicians and senior executives to support future growth.
“We are currently employing local staff and assembling a team consisting of fibre technicians, network technicians and an experienced executive to drive the growth of DemshiTelco in Botswana,” he said. The managing director described the Botswana rollout as part of the company’s broader strategy to establish a regional telecommunications footprint, with the long-term objective of operating across seven Southern African countries by 2030
