17th September 2025

All Media Houses

For Immediate Release

BTC donates proceeds to beneficiaries and launches 5th Francistown Marathon

Francistown, Botswana – September 17, 2025 – Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) has announced and donated proceeds from the 4th BTC Francistown Marathon 2025 to communities in the Northern part of Botswana, namely Francistown City Council, Tonota, Tutume, and Masunga District Councils. Furthermore, BTC has launched the 5th BTC Francistown Marathon and stated that the Marathon will be held on Saturday, 18th April 2026 at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown.

Beneficiaries of proceeds from the 4th BTC Francistown Marathon 2025 were announced as follows: the Department of Tribal Administration under the Francistown City Council will receive two desktop computers and medium-duty printer/photocopiers for five kgotla offices, amounting to P139,375. The District Health Management Team (DHMT) under the Tonota District Council will be provided with 16 wheelchairs to be distributed among 16 health facilities, amounting to P104,000.

The Department of Education- Nata RADs hostels under the Tutume District Council will receive 194 waterproof mattresses, 194 waterproof pillows, 194 seven-litre buckets, six 21-litre stainless steel urns, four burner industrial stoves, and five industrial irons, amounting to P87,500. Masunga Village Development Committee and Mosojane Village Development Committee under the North-East District Council will receive a waste segregation kit to turn waste into revenue, amounting to P80,000.

Additionally, the Francistown Athletics Club, who are BTC’s technical partner, will receive funds for the daily running of the club, amounting to P90,000. In total, BTC has donated P500,875 from the 4th Francistown Marathon 2025 to beneficiaries, bringing the total value of proceeds donated to P1 million over the past three years (2023, 2024, and 2025).

Welcoming guests at the donation handover and launch event, the Mayor of the City of Francistown, His Worship Gaone Majere, stated that he was happy with the charitable effect of the Marathon on the region, as BTC has not only committed to donating proceeds from the marathon, as over the years they have witnessed that commitment being fulfilled. Furthermore, the Mayor commended the BTC Francistown Marathon for being an economic booster, “the previous Marathons hosted in our city have proved to be fundamental”, adding that they “have seen the tremendous impact on the economy of our city, with different industries benefitting from Francistown being the host to thousands of local and international athletes”.

Unpacking BTC’s transformational journey, BTC Chief Executive Officer Mr Jurgen Peschel stated that they are proud of the significant strides that BTC has made in strengthening its market position while laying the foundation for the next phase of growth. He stated that the company has “undertaken projects to strengthen our mobile network infrastructure, accelerate fibre rollout and broadband expansion, and deliver notable Fintech initiatives which include Smega offerings namely Karabo Funeral Plan, loans, sale of electricity etc”, he said.

Zoning to BTC’s impact in the greater Francistown area, Mr Peschel stated that the company is replacing copper cables with advanced technologies to enhance customer experience and service reliability. In the fintech space, Mr Peschel stated that the company’s financial inclusion team is currently touring the country, promoting financial literacy and educating Batswana on affordable digital products and services. He stated that in the North, the team will be covering 123 villages across 9 districts through this initiative. He also noted that through the BTC Francistown Marathon, BTC aims to positively impact the economy of Francistown by organising an activity that transforms the lives of residents, the business community, and neighbouring villages.

Additionally, BTC launched the 5th BTC Francistown Marathon 2026, which will be held on Saturday, 18th April 2026 at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown under the tagline “ Run Milestones of Hope”. To register and pay, runners and athletes should visit the marathon website at www.btc.bw/btc-francistown-marathon/ or the nearest BTC shop.

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Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) took part in the Ghanzi Show held in Ghanzi under the theme ‘Sowing Seeds of Innovation for Agricultural Transformation’. The event is one of the most significant agricultural events in Botswana, celebrated for its role in promoting agricultural trade, showcasing innovations, and supporting local businesses and communities. Throughout the five days that the show was held, BTC hosted several activations in the region (Ghanzi mall, Charleshill, and Ghanzi council), offering services such as know your customer (KYC), Smega registrations, sale of Smega prepaid visa card, opening of Smega motshelo account, showcasing VSAT and Starlink services, sim cards sales, replacements and registrations, sales of S6 phones, LTE, and MiFi routers.

BTC also used this opportunity to showcase its innovation geared towards agriculture, namely VSAT and Starlink. In context, BTC provides connectivity, data analytics, and IoT solutions that benefit farmers in efficient resource management as well as improved market access. Through satellite internet and IoT services, BTC assists farmers to manage resources efficiently, access real-time data, and expand market reach. Additionally, satellite internet services are beneficial for farmers in remote areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited or non-existent. These solutions allow farmers to access important agricultural resources, including weather forecasts, market trends, and digital platforms for selling their produce, among others.

Furthermore, real-time monitoring and data analytics enable farmers to manage water usage, monitor soil health, and track livestock health and movements. All these technological advancements empower farmers to make data-driven decisions, reduce operational costs, and increase yields. BTC remains committed to driving digital growth in agriculture, improving connectivity, efficiency, and market access for farmers and local businesses across Botswana. The company will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, ensuring that innovation and digital transformation remain central to the country’s agricultural development.

Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) is the proud sponsor of the Softball Extravaganza Tournament 2025 held in Selibe Phikwe. BTC was the connectivity sponsor of 300Mbps for the 2-day event valued at more than P163,000.

The Softball Extravaganza returns for the 16th year, once again uniting teams and supporters from across Botswana and the Southern African region. Over the years, the Extravaganza has been a symbol of pride for the Selebi Phikwe community and a catalyst for promoting softball as a tool for youth empowerment and regional sports development. The tournament has grown to become a cornerstone of sports tourism and a powerful platform for community engagement, celebrating both athletic excellence and regional solidarity.

The tournament attracted 16 teams, eight for both males and females across the country. The winning team received a cash prize of P40,000. The teams in second, third, fourth and fifth places received a reward of P30,000, P20,000, P18,000, and P15,000, respectively. Meanwhile, the teams that finished in sixth, seventh, and eighth positions received a consolation prize of P12,000 each.

BTC used this opportunity to showcase its products and services to both residents and tournament attendees. The BTC shop provided services such as sale, registration, and activation of SIM cards, Smega registrations, and promotion of the ongoing specials on the BTC LTE Router, S6 Smartphone, and MiFi.