coffee shop in Cape Town: which wifi provider to choose?

[coubras]

Hi,

Sorry if this subject has been covered already! I have a coffee shop in cape town and would like to offer free wifi and looking for a good wifi provider.
Ideally, I would like the customer to get 3hours free internet by landing on a page and just click on a button. I don't want my customers (nor my staff) to go through the hassle of the voucher system. Tried skyrove but they do vouchers and Alwayson request the email address of the the customer...
help!

[Fudzy]

How much are you looking at spending? Are you wanting to provide the wifi or just resell it? If you just want to provide Wifi then get yourself an uncapped business account and a decent router.

[Ol' Mean Bastid]

and when you've got it PM me the name of your coffee shop as I'm always looking for coffee shops with free wifi when I'm down from Jozi on business - so long as you serve good coffee

[Saajid]

ADSL line + uncapped account + WiFi ADSL router. Enable encryption on your WiFi signal and set a password (WPA / WPA2). Change the WPA password/key regularly (at least once a week.) Your customers must ask for the latest password. Put up notices. That will prevent freeloaders and neighbors from abusing your service. If the service proves popular, and people start spending hours in your shop, you may need to do more, like shaping/throttling each user. A single user downloading torrents could ruin the service for everyone else. Put up some terms and conditions to protect yourself, and make it clear that abusers will not be tolerated.

Total cost will be about R1600 per month:
- R180 - voice line rental (if you don't have one already that can be used for ADSL)
- R413 - 4mbps ADSL line rental
- R997 - 4mbps uncapped business account from Afrihost

[Flidiot]

Sorry to hijack - but I have often wondered what the legal requirements are of this?

If you allow your customers to connect without paying, then that is OK, AFAIK.

But using your idea as an example, what if after 3 hours, you want to charge R10ph, per additional hour they spend on it. Do you need to be licensed to do this? Permission from ISP?...

[Saajid]

I believe you need an IECNS license (or something along those lines) from ICASA, if you want to do it legally. The other way is to partner with a licensee, where they sell the service, and you take a cut.

[Fudzy]

I believe you need an IECNS license (or something along those lines) from ICASA, if you want to do it legally. The other way is to partner with a licensee, where they sell the service, and you take a cut.

How much is that?

[Saajid]

How much is that?

To be honest, I don't know, and I think I might be completely wrong about the license. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of Internet Cafes operating that run off an uncapped ADSL that do not have or require these licenses.

[WAPA]

Hi

The Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA) has several members that provide wireless services in Cape Town.
Fill in your details here: http://www.wapa.org.za/coverage/check-coverage
Those able to assist will contact you directly, so you can then pick what works best for you.

[WAPA]

Hi

The ICASA licences (ECNS and ECS) you mention are for the provision of wireless services and apply to WISPs - not resellers. These cost R10 000 once-off and are valid for 10 years. WAPA helps its members get licenced, which is why it's a good idea to use one as your service provider. WAPA has a code of conduct in keeping with current regulations and a consumer complaints procedure.

Bear in mind, however, that as a reseller, or hotspot, and if operating for commercial purposes, you will need to apply for a licence exeption, just in case ICASA comes knocking on your door.

Check out the Telecoms Regulations Forum for more on this:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...ence+exemption

Or go here to get assistance with applications:

http://www.ellipsis.co.za/licensing/...se-exemptions/

[Flidiot]

Thanks WAPA,

Pretty well answered, I must say. Hope the OP has a bit more clarity as well now.

[Fudzy]

Wow, I thought you could just set up a local APN. How long would it take to pay back R10,000 in the margin of what you sell at a coffee shop?

[ghoti]

Wow, I thought you could just set up a local APN. How long would it take to pay back R10,000 in the margin of what you sell at a coffee shop?

You dont have to apply for a licence to transmit free wireless to clients in your business in this case. Or most B&B`s and hotels would be in big trouble.

[Fudzy]

You dont have to apply for a licence to transmit free wireless to clients in your business in this case. Or most B&B`s and hotels would be in big trouble.

Who would have to pay then?