The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has approved a sweeping reduction of mobile data prices for Orange Botswana, marking one of the most extensive tariff restructurings in recent years.
The new prices follow the implementation of recommendations from BOCRA’s pricing and costing study, which was completed in May 2025. All revised bundles came into effect on 27 October 2025.
The changes involve a combination of price cuts, removal of outdated bundles, and the introduction of new high-volume options aimed at improving affordability for heavy data users. BOCRA said the revised pricing structure is intended to improve consumer welfare, enhance transparency in data tariffs, and strengthen competition among mobile network operators (MNOs).
Significant Reductions in Daily and Short-Term Bundles
Some of the most notable reductions appear in the 1-day category. Orange’s 100MB daily bundle has been cut from P5.00 to P2.00, a 60% reduction, making it one of the lowest-priced short-term bundles on the market. A 300MB daily option has been newly introduced at P5.00, offering more value than the discontinued 500MB bundle, which previously cost P10.00.
Older micro-bundles such as 25MB and 500MB have been phased out, indicating a shift toward offering higher-value packages at lower cost per megabyte.
For 2-day packages, Orange has discontinued its 1GB option but introduced a new 2.5GB bundle at P20.00, maintaining competitive pricing for users who prefer short-term high-volume data.
New Weekly and Biweekly Packages Reflect Shifting Consumption Patterns
The weekly category (7 days) has been overhauled to reflect growing demand for mid-range bundles. New additions include a 2GB bundle at P35.00 and 2.5GB at P50.00, filling a gap that previously left many subscribers choosing between daily bundles or the more expensive 30-day options.
For 14-day bundles, Orange has removed the 1.5GB option but added new mid-tier offerings: 3GB at P66.00 and 5GB at P99.00. These are likely aimed at users who need consistent data but do not want to commit to monthly bundles.
Largest Overhaul Seen in Monthly Packages
The most dramatic restructuring appears in the 30-day category, where several longstanding bundles have been discontinued. These include 2GB, 3GB, 12GB, 18GB, 32GB, and 60GB options, many of which were priced significantly higher than BOCRA’s newly recommended benchmarks.
New monthly bundles have been introduced at substantially lower price points:
- 4GB for P69.00
- 8GB for P99.00
- 30GB for P199.00
- 80GB for P399.00
- 150GB for P599.00
The introduction of high-volume bundles at lower prices suggests a deliberate effort to close the gap between home broadband and mobile data, especially for households that rely heavily on mobile connectivity.
Comparative Pricing Across Operators
To enable consumers to make informed decisions, BOCRA also published a cross-operator comparison.
In the 1-day category, Orange’s new 100MB price (P2.00) is lower than Mascom’s P5.00 for the same bundle. BTC, meanwhile, offers 200MB at P5.00. Orange’s 1-day 1GB bundle, previously P18.00, is now discontinued, but both Mascom and BTC still charge P10.00 for their 1GB daily bundles.
The comparison highlights noticeable differences in pricing strategy among operators, positioning Orange as more competitive in the micro- and mid-size data segments.
Regulator Emphasizes Transparency and Consumer Protection
BOCRA said the decision aligns with its mandate to maintain a competitive telecoms sector and ensure that consumers benefit from affordable, high-quality services. The regulator further committed to continued monitoring of market dynamics, with emphasis on preventing price distortions and encouraging fair competition.
“The Authority will continue monitoring market developments to guarantee that all consumers have access to high-quality, reliable, and affordable communication services,” BOCRA stated.
The announcement comes at a time when mobile data usage in Botswana continues to rise, driven by remote work, online learning, and the increasing digitalisation of services across both public and private sectors.