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

coubras

New Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
1
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!
 
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Fudzy

Guest
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.
 

OMB

Mountain Man
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
39,590
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 :p
 

Saajid

Expert Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
4,559
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

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
915
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

Expert Member
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Aug 8, 2008
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4,559
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.
 
F

Fudzy

Guest
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

Expert Member
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Aug 8, 2008
Messages
4,559
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

WAPA representative
Company Rep
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
43
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

WAPA representative
Company Rep
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
43
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/showthr...cations-licensing?highlight=licence+exemption

Or go here to get assistance with applications:

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

Flidiot

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
915
Thanks WAPA,

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

Guest
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?
 

w1z4rd

Karmic Sangoma
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Messages
49,747
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.
 
F

Fudzy

Guest
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?
 

WAPA

WAPA representative
Company Rep
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
43
Hi Coubras

Please send your specific request and details (address, contact details) to http://www.wapa.org.za/coverage/request and a WAPA member in your area will contact you to assist with a tailored solution.

WAPA represents over 160 members around the country that are ICASA-licensed and bound by a Code of Conduct in keeping with current regulations.
 

WAPA

WAPA representative
Company Rep
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
43
Hi

Class ECS (for provision of services) and ECNS (for physical infrastructure) Licences are issued by ICASA and they are R10 400 per licence. See details earlier in thread, as exemption applies to resellers.
 

Rickster

EVGA Fanatic
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
20,429
Hi Coubras

Please send your specific request and details (address, contact details) to http://www.wapa.org.za/coverage/request and a WAPA member in your area will contact you to assist with a tailored solution.

WAPA represents over 160 members around the country that are ICASA-licensed and bound by a Code of Conduct in keeping with current regulations.

Its only been 517 days since he made that thread, im sure he will reply. :whistling:
 
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