Becoming an ISP

[makhulu235]

I want to become an isp.i stay in a rural area where there is no fibre connection
the reason behind this is that i want to be a wisp where i will provide wireless internet to my clients
who to contact for help or how do i start and what can be the cost?

 

[Thor]

Minimum R200k for the licenses alone.

 

[HartsockZA]

Yea @OP ISP or WISP there is a massive difference. One routes data the other does hand over data to the ISP.
WISP operation costs depend entirely on what equipment, where you need to set up, and then bandwidth costs as well as Icasa licensing.

Like Thor said ISP you're looking at R200k+ however WISP you're looking at around R50k - R100K with all licensing costs and If I recall correctly ICASA wants their pound of flesh every year or so but at least renewal for ECS & ECSN licenses are around 7K a year per license

Most WISP & ISP operators use places like Scoop to get ahold of infrastructure (routers, etc) (www.scoop.co.za)

You're welcome to ask for advice on where and how to start here, just remember to take everything with a pinch of salt and not forget Rome wasn't built in a day. WISP's takes a while to plan and get into.

 

[syntax]

I can help you from the peering and design perspective.
The ISP market is very very saturated and challenging to be in now days, I would not expect to make a lot of money and you will be competing with other technologies, if not now but very very soon which can make your services redundant almost over night

 

[eddief1]

Minimum R200k for the licenses alone.

This is not really the case, maybe for individual licences but the OP can get a C-ECS & C-ECNS to build his WISP/ISP for about R13k for each licence as far as I am aware