From the Pitch to the Console: How Orange Is Powering Botswana’s Booming Esports Industry

Move over traditional sports; a new digital arena is capturing the world’s attention and its wallet. Esports, the world of competitive video gaming, is now recognized as one of the globe’s fastest-growing and most profitable industries. But what does this mean for a nation like Botswana? The answer lies in a strategic pivot from the football pitch to the gaming console, with telecommunications giant Orange playing a pivotal role.

The Global Esports Gold Rush

The numbers behind this phenomenon are staggering. According to data from Statistica, the esports industry is projected to generate a colossal US$4.8 billion (approximately P64.4 billion) in revenue this year alone. This isn’t just a fleeting trend. The industry’s momentum shows no signs of slowing, with projections indicating a steady annual growth rate of 5.56% from 2025 to 2029. This trajectory would see the global esports market volume balloon to an estimated US$5.9 billion by the end of the decade.

Botswana’s Digital Playground

So, how is Botswana positioning itself to get a slice of this multi-billion-dollar pie? The nation is witnessing a quiet revolution, one powered by fiber optics and mobile data. Telecommunications providers, with Orange at the forefront, are providing the essential infrastructure—high-speed, low-latency internet—that is the lifeblood of competitive gaming. Without this digital backbone, the dreams of aspiring Botswanan esports athletes would remain just that: dreams.

This investment is doing more than just enabling gameplay; it’s fostering a new ecosystem. It’s about creating a platform where local talent can be discovered, nurtured, and compete on a national and eventually international stage. The question is no longer if Botswana can produce a world-class esports champion, but when.

Source: This report is based on an original article from the Sunday Standard. Full credit and acknowledgment go to the original source and writer.