Botswana’s government plans to develop regulations for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in preparation for the shift from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to the latest generation. IPv6, the most recent version of the communication protocol facilitating computer identification and network traffic routing, addresses the longstanding issue of IPv4 address depletion.
The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) underscores that this migration is pivotal for the nation to harness the complete advantages of digitization in its pursuit of evolving into a high-income country with a knowledge-based economy, as outlined in its Vision 2036 transformational agenda.
Supporting this digital transformation initiative is the Botswana Digital Transformation Strategy, striving to create a smart and sustainable society through the digitization of all sectors. A comprehensive IPv6 migration strategy has been crafted, considering existing infrastructure, available technical expertise for IPv6, and the associated costs. The strategy delineates goal milestones and dates for stakeholders involved in the transition and deployment of IPv6 across various networks and services, with the overarching objective of achieving full economic conversion by 2030.
To facilitate this transition, an IPv6 task group will be established to develop a national IPv6 adoption plan. Internet service providers and operators will be tasked with formulating an IPv6 adoption and implementation strategy aligned with the IPv6 taskforce roadmap, subject to regulatory approval.
