Economy

MBABANE - Eswatini is entering 2026 with optimism from the private sector, underpinned by growing momentum in digital transformation and improved connectivity initiatives.

These are initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s communications landscape.

A key signal of this positive outlook is the Eswatini Communications Commission’s (ESCCOM) announcement of its intention to award a tender worth E2 805 425 to 360 Degrees Business Solutions, a local consultancy firm, to conduct the State of Communications Sector Study 2025/26.

The study is expected to provide a comprehensive assessment of the country’s telecommunications, broadcasting, postal and courier sectors, helping to shape future policy, regulation and investment decisions.

The tender award follows a competitive bidding process in line with Section 45(3)(b) of the Eswatini Public Procurement Act No. 7 of 2011. According to the notice, 360 Degrees Business Solutions emerged as the best evaluated responsive tenderer, achieving a total evaluation score of 79 per cent.

Other bidders included South Africa-based Fides Advisory Services, while two Swati firms failed to meet the technical threshold required for their financial proposals to be opened.

This is a step in Eswatini’s broader digital reform agenda, which is being driven by the Eswatini Digitalisation Strategy (2024–2028) under the leadership of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT).

Framed under the theme ‘Government in Your Hand,’ the national digitalisation strategy seeks to harness technology to improve public service delivery, stimulate economic growth and promote social inclusion.

Central to this vision is the communications sector, which includes telecommunications, broadcasting, postal and courier services.

The sector plays a critical role in enabling digital government platforms, e-commerce, digital finance, education technologies and access to information for citizens and businesses alike.

With private sector leaders projecting a brighter 2026 outlook, improved connectivity and regulatory reforms are increasingly seen as catalysts for competitiveness, job creation and innovation.

However, despite progress in mobile broadband coverage, Eswatini continues to face several structural challenges.

According to the World Bank, data costs remain relatively high, fixed broadband penetration is limited and digital skills across the population are still weak. In addition, the broadcasting, postal and courier sub-sectors remain underdeveloped, limiting their ability to support inclusive economic growth and efficient service delivery.

It is against this backdrop that ESCCOM has commissioned the State of Communications Sector Study. 360 Degrees Business Solutions, as the preferred consultancy, will establish a comprehensive baseline of Eswatini’s communications sector to inform future regulatory, policy and investment decisions.

The study will assess the current state of the market, identify barriers to growth and propose reforms to improve competition, affordability and service quality.

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A key signal of this positive outlook is the Eswatini Communications Commission’s (ESCCOM) announcement of its intention to award a tender worth E2 805 425 to 360 Degrees Business Solutions, a local consultancy firm, to conduct the State of Communications Sector Study 2025/26.