GABORONE – Orange Botswana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Extraordinary Medical Company (TEMCO), positioning the telecommunications firm as the preferred connectivity provider for a major healthcare development planned for the Gaborone Airport Special Economic Zone.

The partnership will support a healthcare ecosystem anchored by a 130-bed specialised hospital and is expected to provide the digital infrastructure required for hospital operations, pharmaceutical manufacturing and related facilities within the development.

TEMCO, a National Development Plan 12 project licensed by the Special Economic Zones Authority, is developing an integrated ecosystem that includes a hospital, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, as well as hospitality and recovery services. Orange Botswana becomes the project’s first corporate partner.

Under the agreement, Orange Botswana will provide connectivity and information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to support hospital operations, including secure data management, telemedicine services, digital health records and digital payment systems.

The partnership will also extend to smart infrastructure, utilities monitoring and other digital services for businesses operating within the special economic zone.

Orange Botswana Chief Executive Officer Nene Maiga said the collaboration highlights the growing role of technology in modern healthcare delivery.

“This partnership brings together healthcare and technology to create a more connected and efficient patient experience. Our role is to provide the digital infrastructure that will support TEMCO’s vision of delivering specialised healthcare,” Maiga said.

TEMCO is being developed to offer specialised medical services that are currently limited or unavailable locally, including high-risk obstetrics, neonatal and paediatric intensive care, cancer treatment, cardiac care, neurosurgery and robotic surgery.

The facility also plans to provide fertility and IVF services, specialist paediatric surgery, weight-loss procedures, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, as well as rehabilitation services for patients recovering from strokes and joint replacement operations.

Maiga said the project presents an opportunity to strengthen Botswana’s position as a regional healthcare destination.

“TEMCO has regional ambitions, and Orange is proud to support that ambition. Reliable connectivity will be critical in enabling the hospital to serve patients from Botswana and across southern Africa,” he said.

TEMCO Chairman Sailas Temwa said access to advanced technology would be critical to delivering world-class healthcare services.

“Our vision is to build a world-class healthcare facility that meets the needs of Botswana and the region. Having a strong technology partner is an important part of making that vision a reality,” Temwa said.

Orange Botswana said it would continue leveraging its technology and digital financial services capabilities to support projects that contribute to national development and economic growth.

The TEMCO development is expected to attract patients from across southern Africa, with its location within the Gaborone Airport Special Economic Zone supporting plans to establish Botswana as a regional medical hub.