ICASA Took Down a Link

[UPiT]

Hi,

we setup a line of site wireless link for client to link there factory and main offices, the network is closed and private for their use only, and they were not charged any monthly rates, it was a once of setup fee.

ICASA took it down without warning, apparently we need a licence to do this?

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

afaik if it crosses a road then there is some licensing required for it.

 

[Shake&Bake]

afaik if it crosses a road then there is some licensing required for it.

Same goes for chickens

 

[froot]

ICASA took it down without warning, apparently we need a licence to do this?

They can and you do.

 

[Shake&Bake]

What equipment were you making use of?

WUG or 2.4GHz band equipment should be ok right?

 

[Fulcrum29]

Hi,

we setup a line of site wireless link for client to link there factory and main offices, the network is closed and private for their use only, and they were not charged any monthly rates, it was a once of setup fee.

ICASA took it down without warning, apparently we need a licence to do this?

Thanks for any help and advice.

How did they take the link down? It probably caused noise and were reported.

They do not always remove the equipment, depends on the case, normally they remove the power, disconnect all possible connections (also opening boxes and disconnecting radios etc.) or pull those bags over your equipment which they lock down.

In regard with many high sites positioned close, they recommend that the responsible entity put a plaque listing all entities on the mass, and all equipment marked to their entity. When they do inspections they will contact the entity responsible, inspect all equipment and remove those not marked and return it to the entity responsible, then a couple disputes later… long story.

 

[deweyzeph]

How did they even find the equipment? You should have hidden it better.

 

[koeksGHT]

Buy some more equipment and some bush paint

 

[eddief1]

This is strange, if it was running in the ISM band then there should be no problem as it was for private use...unless the equipment was not type approved. There are hundreds of these kinds of links running. Anyone else with a concrete answer regarding the law?

 

[deweyzeph]

This is strange, if it was running in the ISM band then there should be no problem as it was for private use...unless the equipment was not type approved. There are hundreds of these kinds of links running. Anyone else with a concrete answer regarding the law?

There must be more to the story, ICASA will not take down a private wifi link because of licensing issues, otherwise all the WUGS would be taken down.

 

[Level7]

Yes this sounds interesting indeed, perhaps an illegal frequency was being used ?

 

[MickeyD]

Yes this sounds interesting indeed, perhaps an illegal frequency was being used ?

Thinking the same... causing interference on other (legal) links in the vicinity.

 

[Level7]

I also understood that ICASA would arrive with the SAPS if equipment we being removed?

 

[eddief1]

This all sounds fishy guys, I think the OP needs to give us more detail

 

[garthvs]

It is illegal to broadcast over a public road unless you have applied for license exemption from ICASA. You cannot supply any paid services over license exempt links. This includes "free" services that are paid indirectly from installation fees etc.

An example of a license exempt link would be a farmer needing communications between two plots of land. The services he places on that link are for his own use and not sold or supplied to anyone else.

The WUG's for example, are not allowed to supply Internet access over their license exempt links as that would constitute as a paid service.

If you are uncertain I would recommend contacting the Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) who will be able to help:

http://www.wapa.org.za/

 

[eddief1]

It is illegal to broadcast over a public road unless you have applied for license exemption from ICASA. You cannot supply any paid services over license exempt links. This includes "free" services that are paid indirectly from installation fees etc.

An example of a license exempt link would be a farmer needing communications between two plots of land. The services he places on that link are for his own use and not sold or supplied to anyone else.

The WUG's for example, are not allowed to supply Internet access over their license exempt links as that would constitute as a paid service.

If you are uncertain I would recommend contacting the Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) who will be able to help:

http://www.wapa.org.za/

So you are essentially saying that everyone putting up private links need to apply for a license exemption ? There are so many of these in our town, guys linking houses to offices etc, all for private use.

 

[dominic]

garthvs is correct although this is not observed or generally enforced. the OP is not telling the full story here....

 

[legrang]

garthvs is correct although this is not observed or generally enforced. the OP is not telling the full story here....

I suspect the link may have been using frequencies outside the ISM band. We have seen ICASA take down equipment where people run at for example 4900MHz. People need to be awake - simply because your kit can run at a frequency does not make it legal.

 

[dominic]

I suspect the link may have been using frequencies outside the ISM band. We have seen ICASA take down equipment where people run at for example 4900MHz. People need to be awake - simply because your kit can run at a frequency does not make it legal.

agreed - 4.9 GHz is a military band used by UAVs in SA....crap idea to interfere there

[6 August 2013] ICASA has issued a warning to wireless internet service providers to ensure that they do not illegally use the 4 GHz band which is used by the South Africa Air Force. This is pursuant to complaints received.

“Anyone found to be in possession or operating such equipment outside the licence free band and is not a holder of a radio spectrum licence, will result in the apparatus being seized and dealt with according to law.”

if a wisp is using dynamic frequency selection take care to ensure that the parameters are correctly set...

 

[Tacet]

Some of the 5.4 GHz kits can run into the L6 band, which is often used by Telkom for their transport links. They tend to be unhappy if they find you transmitting in spectrum they paid for...