Legality of hotspots?

captainwifi said:
Carlhead actually the ISP's care very much about this because they are essentially
left behind, they don't want us to send commercial data over boundaries. Many of
the gentlemen from Jawug actually have shares in ISP's or work for ISP's.
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Okay gents.. own up.. who's the wolf in sheeps clothing?

captainwifi: Please justify this statement of yours.
 
So it is still illegal to share an internet connection but if I do it for non commercial purposes, then I will be safe....?
 
headstrong said:
So it is still illegal to share an internet connection but if I do it for non commercial purposes, then I will be safe....?
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If you sell it to your whole neighbourhood and advertise on TV you'll be safe... but it still won't be legal.
 
bloody grey areas

It's legal to cross public boundaries with 2.4 GHz equipment.

You might need a license if you are reselling commercially and if that's your primary business.

However, regardless of what's "legal" etc...

Ask yourself this:

Is what you are planning to do ETHICAL?

The issue used to be protecting Telkom, now the issue isn't preventing wireless networks, the issue is merely REGULATING them... i.e. it's not a matter of legal and illegal anymore! It's a matter of complying to regulations.
 
Sorry Captain Wifi - none of the big ISP are doing wifi using their own licenses. They are all using 3G, MyWireless or iBurst.

We as a small ISP had a running battle with ICASA trying to put up legal wifi networks crossing bounderies. I even resorted to one of top IT lawers in the country Buys, for help. And their advice is that wifi is still illegal even with a VANS license.

PS: Yes I do have a lot of ICASA phonenumber, want some?

Regarding to hotspots, Rodent is correct. If you dont cross a propertiy bounderies it is legal. Anything else is illegal.

Will ICASA shut you down for transmitting to your friend? Changes are zero. Someone will first have to complain as ICASA doesnt go around sniffing for networks.
 
"No one was really sure whether it was against the terms of service of the ISPs, but there was definitely an understanding that it would be a good idea. At the end of the conference I told the assembled press (who I hope publish this far and wide), that if you want to resell your landline Internet over a WiFi service to whoever wants it, you're free to do so."

http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/int...ws&O=E&CiRestriction=&[email protected]
 
Carlhead, please visit http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/feedback/feedcopy.asp?CommentID=5794 regarding the quote from www.itweb.co.za

"5 Sep 2006 ] Where does she get the idea that the ISPs can reduce their prices by 80% if individuals resell their bandwidth? She obviously knows nothing about the ISP business and is another example of the useless advisors to the President"

"Secondly, it is illegal (according to our esteemed MoC) to supply network services to your neighbours without a telecomms licence. Are you advocating flouting the law?"
 
Dipdip said:
Carlhead, please visit http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/feedback/feedcopy.asp?CommentID=5794 regarding the quote from www.itweb.co.za

"5 Sep 2006 ] Where does she get the idea that the ISPs can reduce their prices by 80% if individuals resell their bandwidth? She obviously knows nothing about the ISP business and is another example of the useless advisors to the President"

"Secondly, it is illegal (according to our esteemed MoC) to supply network services to your neighbours without a telecomms licence. Are you advocating flouting the law?"
Click to expand...

Thanks, although I agree with her in part... Although her thinking is wholly flawed... Why should it be illegal to resell your internet service via Wifi... you're certainly not getting more than you pay for, i.e. you pay for the line and the bandwidth usage at the same rate.

I could understand if the sharing of the internet service violated the terms of service of an ISP if they provided you with an uncapped service, but the mere fact that we pay per GB for internet services, IMO I see nothing malicious about reselling that service although it may be illegal. Yet more Telkom profiteering and laws protecting them.
 
I agree with carlhead,

If you pay per gig then we should be able to do what we like with the cap!!!
 
It seems I can't say this enough:

Something only becomes illegal once it's decided in court. Innocent until proven guilty.

We currently have 'grey' areas in the ECA. This does not make everything that falls within these grey areas automatically illegal.

I honestly don't know why people keep spreading the word that it's illegal. I agree with Esther Dyson that we need to test these regulations.

Are you really this worried about breaking the law when it comes to obeying speed limits on our roads? Which do you think is going to kill more people, speeding or sharing Wi-Fi?

Use your judgement.
 
henkk78 said:
Are you really this worried about breaking the law when it comes to obeying speed limits on our roads? Which do you think is going to kill more people, speeding or sharing Wi-Fi?
.
Click to expand...

True...

but think about the kittens when sharing wifi with omnis:p
 
Carlhead said:
Oh no the kittiiess!!!! I'm taking my aerial down!! :p

Actualy most Wifi rigs have a much weaker signal than the average cell phone... think about that.
Click to expand...

As a matter of fact, tenfold weaker; if not more.

Light Bulb: 200 000 mW ; 1 000 000 Mhz
DSTV: 75 000 mW ; 2 500 - 12 750 Mhz
Wi-Fi: 10 - 400 mW ; 2 400 - 2 500 Mhz
GSM: 2 000 - 20 000 mW ; 800 - 1 800 Mhz
FM: 20 000 000 mW - 80 000 000 mW ; 80 - 130 Mhz

Spot the most harmless one...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum
 
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Like everything else in South Africa, its only illegal if you're caught ... and you're not able to buy back the court dockets from the cops ;)
 
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