ICASA shuts down wireless networks

One has to ask pointed questions why ICASA would go as far as deprive some souls of their IP networks. Speculation could be:

a) Enforcing known rules
(b) Acting upon the instruction of another

In our current uncompetitive environment common sense would dictate that they would allow more networks and competition, however, at the same time, they have a mandate to follow the law and mitigate interference. This is pressure and takes enormous resources.

It leads to the debate on information vs. politics, looking at today's methods for dessemenating information and the spread of technology, versus how can it be contained.

African governments has traditionally had a culture of control - but consistently technology has superceded the ability to be kept in a cage. Disruptive technology cannot be contained, let's face it.

A school of thought is to embrace these trends, to make them spead, to be creative and build and share more so that we all can grow. Share the knowledge. Only if you touch and if you experiment with new technology you will practically learn. Be creative. Take the bull by the horn and get Africa connected instead of making rules to contain it.

Let's hope this matter gets resolved quickly and in the right direction.

Eugene van der Merwe
 
Think this will be a highly embarassing situation should IncompetentCASA (or !Casa) have removed Mweb's equipment on iBurps' request... :D:D:D:D
 
eugenevdm said:
One has to ask pointed questions why ICASA would go as far as deprive some souls of their IP networks. Speculation could be:

a) Enforcing known rules
(b) Acting upon the instruction of another

In our current uncompetitive environment common sense would dictate that they would allow more networks and competition, however, at the same time, they have a mandate to follow the law and mitigate interference. This is pressure and takes enormous resources.

It leads to the debate on information vs. politics, looking at today's methods for dessemenating information and the spread of technology, versus how can it be contained.

African governments has traditionally had a culture of control - but consistently technology has superceded the ability to be kept in a cage. Disruptive technology cannot be contained, let's face it.

A school of thought is to embrace these trends, to make them spead, to be creative and build and share more so that we all can grow. Share the knowledge. Only if you touch and if you experiment with new technology you will practically learn. Be creative. Take the bull by the horn and get Africa connected instead of making rules to contain it.

Let's hope this matter gets resolved quickly and in the right direction.
Eugene van der Merwe
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The ECA states that Icasa merely has to assert that your wi-fi network is causing interference to get a court order to shut it down. If they abuse this power by say shutting down allo Wi-fi it will just blow up in their faces because it will only force people to cooperate by building hybrid Mesh and http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/TelephoneNetworkRollout
The genie is out of the bottle there is no way that Icasa can now suddenly hope to squash people communicating across boundaries, they will just force communities to achieve their goals in a different manner, there is always a solution to a problem. If Wi-Fi becomes impossible to use on long distance links using huge highsites then people will just switch over to illegal http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/WiMax on the 10ghz band say. At 10ghz you can go 12km LOS at upto 240megs.
 
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from what i've heard/read, its normally MTN that go ahead and get ICASA to pull the plug on other providers competing in the same spectrum.
 
Any truth to the rumour that !CASA tore down MWeb's WiMax trial equipment at the same time at Sandton City?
 
ic said:
Was just wondering if it might have been the reason why !CASA decided to informally extend MWeb's expired WiMax trial licence - perhaps !CASA was feeling guilty & ashamed for allegedly confiscating MWeb's WiMax trial equipment at Sandton City, and decided to take pity on MWeb...
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As far as I know, it was to avoid a class-action lawsuit from the WRONG equipment icasa took in the raids. 'It wasnt labeled clearly'. ICASA even took down some other 'Law enforcement agencies' wireless backhaul in the same raid :o

-aparently- :D
 
Ricard said:
As far as I know, it was to avoid a class-action lawsuit from the WRONG equipment icasa took in the raids. 'It wasnt labeled clearly'. ICASA even took down some other 'Law enforcement agencies' wireless backhaul in the same raid :o

-aparently- :D
Click to expand...
Perhaps it's a flaw in my personality, but I really think we need a follow-up article documenting the juicy bits of !CASA's incompetence, I would also like to know which Telkodemonopolies lawyer !CASA paid to water down and further 'ambiguate' !CASA's ADSL Regulations...
 
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ic i believe the mweb confiscation story to be correct - there was a lot of chaotic "enforcement", no less so because it was done just before christmas

a few other items
- i have seen a copy of the search warrant which imo is illegal and looks like one of those cut and paste jobs where they don't even take the trouble to standardise the fonts
- to the best of my knowledge icasa was carrying out enforcement to protect the rights of an unlicensed user in the unlicensed bands - they do not have the authority to do this
- they state that one of the areas of supposed illegality was excessive EIRP contrary to the the unlicensed band regulations but i am not convinced that ICASA really have the ability to measure this let alone prove it in court

eish
 
seriaas eish...

Fscking useless incompetent morons.... I mean really, how difficult is it to check that what you're taking away is what you're supposed to take away for one.... 2ndly do they not expect the ppl they've p#@#@d off with this to take them to court? (dominic can clarify if this is really an option for some of the parties)
 
dominic said:
- they state that one of the areas of supposed illegality was excessive EIRP contrary to the the unlicensed band regulations but i am not convinced that ICASA really have the ability to measure this let alone prove it in court
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I have heard that they have to outsource this kind of service, there is no equipment and no skills in house.
 
ToxicBunny said:
seriaas eish...

Fscking useless incompetent morons.... I mean really, how difficult is it to check that what you're taking away is what you're supposed to take away for one.... 2ndly do they not expect the ppl they've p#@#@d off with this to take them to court? (dominic can clarify if this is really an option for some of the parties)
Click to expand...

usually far simpler to focus on recovering equipment and getting on with life - you can certainly try and sue the regulator but you will still have to deal with them afterwards...
 
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