Deal with unlicensed wireless providers, ICASA told

[rpm]

Deal with unlicensed broadband providers, ICASA told

The Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA) calls on ICASA to deal with unlicensed telecoms providers

[bleh69]

does this include the WUG's?

[Garyvdh]

does this include the WUG's?

No, the WUG's use a spectrum that is not regulated. It's kind of a free to air part of the spectrum for hobbyists.

[rpm]

No, the WUG's use a spectrum that is not regulated. It's kind of a free to air part of the spectrum for hobbyists.

Most of the wireless providers also use unlicensed spectrum, but they do it commercially - hence provide commercial ECN services and therefore need to be licensed (I assume ECNS and ECS). Not certain about this...maybe Dominic can clear this up.

[Garyvdh]

Most of the wireless providers also use unlicensed spectrum, but they do it commercially - hence provide commercial ECN services and therefore need to be licensed (I assume ECNS and ECS). Not certain about this...maybe Dominic can clear this up.

Ah, I see.

Is that why some erratic radio signal keeps triggering a panic alarm at our offices?

[fluffy54]

If it inexpensive for them to get a license why do they then list at the end that the unlicensed guys are competing unfairly as they don't have to pay annual license and to the fund that is mentioned. If its so inexpensive then why should it affect competitiveness. I agree its unfair that they don't pay just because of the principle of it but seems a bit of a contradiction.

[deweyzeph]

This article does not address why, if you are using unlicensed spectrum, you are required to obtain a licence in the first place. Yes, it is the law, but is this law just and fair?

[lexian]

sorry to sound stupid, but does this include wifi hotspots offering a commercial service?

[Plaasjapie]

This is actually very funny, if WAPA was not in fact very serious. This is a classic case of the "The pot calling the kettle black" . Please remember that WAPA was formed by unlawful WISP's to regulate themselves and petition to Icasa to not take off their equipment, before they were "legalized" by the Altech court case. Most of these people started up by breaking "the law" as they now claim others are doing.

Most, if not all, of these so called members of WAPA are in fact still contravening ICASA regulations by using radios and antenna's that transmit power levels far exceeding max allowable EIRP's as stipulated in the unlicensed bands.

It is very funny to see them use the same tricks as Telkom did with them, but now they are the fat cats trying to squeeze the life out of a few people trying to make a little money. Let the market regulate itself !

[Plaasjapie]

Oh, and while we are on the topic of the "legal" WAPA members, and observing their quote in the article,

"Nor are such providers observing the consumer protection regulations which ICASA has put in place,” WAPA said in a press statement.

Please tell me where are the so called publication of contention ratio's of WAPA WISP's ? They use already oversubscribed ADSL lines and then resell these (which is illegal according to Telkom's terms of service), and then on top of that, they divide the use of these ADSL lines by a further 50 - 60 or even more people ! They market their services to uninformed rural people as "broadband internet", while a lot of the time their services crawl at barely dial-up speeds.

If you want to throw stones at others, you had better make sure you are not living in a glass house !

[pookfuzz]

I have the distinct feeling this is all about R500 per month multiplied by 500+ members.

[Paul Hjul]

it also fails to address (a) why ECN licence holders are using unregulated spectrum for commercial purposes and if it is legal to do so (b) whether the acquisition of licences has been marred by problems and ultimately we are siting with licence holders playing with the wrong technology to deliver sub-par service to consumers (c) whether any currently licenced providers are in fact simply continuing a previously unlicenced service.

Ultimately I know of 4 non-wugs where companies holding a flimsy ECN (the BEE credentials are comical) are providing a wireless based service charging customers for installation that equals the infrastructure costs.

ICASA needs to address the unregulated band issue. WUGS should be promoted but commercial operations is a form of abuse. Obviously roll out programmes for underserviced areas using unregulated band should be considered but thats a different issue.

[zamicro]

This is actually very funny, if WAPA was not in fact very serious. This is a classic case of the "The pot calling the kettle black" . Please remember that WAPA was formed by unlawful WISP's to regulate themselves and petition to Icasa to not take off their equipment, before they were "legalized" by the Altech court case. Most of these people started up by breaking "the law" as they now claim others are doing.

Most, if not all, of these so called members of WAPA are in fact still contravening ICASA regulations by using radios and antenna's that transmit power levels far exceeding max allowable EIRP's as stipulated in the unlicensed bands.

It is very funny to see them use the same tricks as Telkom did with them, but now they are the fat cats trying to squeeze the life out of a few people trying to make a little money. Let the market regulate itself !

This is very funny!

[packetloss]

I have the distinct feeling this is all about R500 per month multiplied by 500+ members.

Hmm. Sounds just about right.

[Antonf]

I doubt if iCASA can deal with anything, legal, illegal, lawful, unlawful...