Botswana - Apply for VANS License or Permit

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. The application for VANS License or Permit shall be filed to the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) office.BOCRA Contact Details
2. Applicants are required to collect and complete the VANS License Application Form, available at the BOCRA head office. Copies are not available online.
3. Applicants are required to enclose five (5) copies of their application, i.e. certified copies of the relevant supporting documents, in addition to the duly completed application forms in all respect and accompanied by a comprehensive business plan as explained below under the “Required Documents” section of this page, in a manila envelope addressed to the Executive Chairman, Botswana Telecommunications Authority, and should be submitted to the BOCRA head office either in person or via mail. Any omission of these documents will render the application process incomplete.
4. Upon receipt of the application file, the BORCA receiving officer will verify, if all the necessary information and documentation has been provided and that the applications comply with the selection criteria before registering the application file for assessment and consideration by the BORCA Registration and Licensing Board.
5. Applicants will be required to pay the application fee (non-refundable) as mentioned under the “Fees” section of this page and obtain an acknowledgment slip as proof of submission of the application.
6. The application will be processed as per the information and documentation provided, that is why applicants are advised to provide sufficient information to enable the BORCA to evaluate the business/company and make its decision.
7. Notice of the decision (Approval, Deferral, or Rejection) for the application will be communicated to the client as pre preferable mode (in writing /phone/email/ in-person).
8. The Licence will be granted if BOCRA licensing board, is satisfied with the applicant’s ability to deliver on its proposed business plan.
9. If approved, the applicant will be required to produce a proof of identity document and the acknowledgment slip and pay the license fee, as mentioned under the “Fees” section of this page, while collecting the License, at the BORCA head office where the application was lodged.
10. The VANS permit/license shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the BOCRA Licensing board deems fit to impose in each case, and such terms and conditions or requirements shall be endorsed on the permit/License.

NOTE: The Licensee shall at all times display this Licence Notice in a conspicuous place at the Licensee’s registered offices.

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Required Documents

Applicants should furnish the Authority with the following information: Particulars Of The Applicant

• A certified copy of the certificate of incorporation or certificate of registration of the company.
• A complete ownership profile must be provided, listing all the Shareholders, their nationalities, their physical and postal addresses, and their shareholding.
• A certified copy of shareholding certificates and certified copies of shareholding i.e. certified Form 2C and 2D.
• Disclose the Directorship of the company.  We require certified copies of Form 2A and 2B. Form 2E is required if the company is Close Company.
• It must be indicated whether your company is a member of a group, and if so, give details of the ownership profile of the subsidiaries from the ultimate parent company of the group to the applicant.
• The nature of the company must be disclosed i.e. whether it is a private or public company incorporated in terms of the Companies Act.
• The company must have a registered office in Botswana. Provide details of Registered Office i.e. certified copy of Form 2.
• Provide contact details of the Registered Office.
• Business plans provide a 3-year business plan of your proposed project. The business plan must at a minimum show the following:
  • A statement on how the applicant will be different from other players in the market.
  • Services on offer and how such services will benefit the market.
  • Description of aftersales support structures for customers.
  • Target market.
  • Pricing for the services.
  • 3-year financial projections of the Cash Flows and Income Statement.
  • A statement of commitment indicating the date of commencement of operations.
  • Proof of funding.
• Technical Information: The configuration and description of all the technical aspects of the network as well as the equipment that will be used must be fully disclosed.  The disclosure in this respect should include the following:
  • Network diagram/configuration.
  • The description of all interfaces within the network.
  • Description of major equipment that will form the core components of the network. Clear indications of resources required from the BOCRA which may include amongst others telephone number blocks, spectrum, etc.
  • Applicants must include brief CVs of technical experience and managerial capability of the personnel that will be managing the company. The Authority has to assess whether the applicant has the capacity to operate the proposed project.
  • Applicant must show if there is any job creation and transfer of skills to local personnel.
    

Office Locations & Contacts

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA)
Address: Plot 50671 Independence Avenue
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 395 7755
Fax: +267 395 7976
Email: [email protected]
BOCRA Contact Details, BOCRA website

Eligibility

• Legally registered companies.
• The applicant shall be incorporated and have an office in Botswana.
  

Fees

• Initial license fees of P10 000 (ten thousand Pula).
• The licensee will also pay, on an annual basis, P3 000 (three thousand Pula).  All license fees attract a 12% Value Added Tax.
  

Payment methods:

• Payment can be made by cash or company cheques at BTA headquarters, plot 206/207, independence avenue, Gaborone.
• Customers within Botswana may Deposit Cash into BTA account number 62011115088, First National Bank, The Mall Branch, Gaborone. Deposit may be paid at any FNB Branch in Botswana, Bank charges of P3.00 will be payable by the customer in addition to the invoice amount.
• Customers from outside Botswana are requested to pay fees using a bank draft in Botswana Pula. Customers paying through a Bank are requested to fax the deposit receipt to the BTA Fax number +267 3957976. Please indicate your BTA Invoice number in the receipt.
  

Validity

• The Licence shall be valid for 15 (fifteen) years, from the Licence Date, unless replaced or revoked by the Authority.
• This Licence may be renewed upon expiry of the fifteen-year Licence period, provided that the Licensee shall apply for such renewal, not more than 12 months but not less than 6 months before the date of expiry. The Authority shall grant or reject the Licensee’s application for renewal within 3 (three) months of receiving such application.
  

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

Successful applicants for the Licence will be awarded their licence within 8 weeks of application submission, provided that the applicants have submitted all the necessary information requested by the Authority for evaluation purposes and that Authority has completed all the clarifications with the applicants.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
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sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
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Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

Applicant Particulars

• Client Type (Company/Person/Gov./ Parastatal/ Other)
• Full legal names
• VAT Number
• Nationality
• Customer No.
• Company Reg. Number
• Contact Person
• Physical/Postal Address details
  

Need for the Document

VANS license also known as Value-Added Services license, is issued to operators of all services and applications carried over Regional Networks, Internet Services carried on Regional Networks, VOIP, Services offered on Private Networks, Premium Rated Services, Card Validation ad Other Web-Based public information services.

Information which might help

• BOCRA Service and Application License Guideline
  
• BOCRA Guidelines for Application of Licenses
  
• BOCRA Act
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

BOCRA

Others

More information which might help people.