Unlicensed spectrum usage battle

[Valis]

I don't know what iBurst are worried about. They will just steal the money out of people's bank accounts like they always do.

 

[dominic]

WBS v ICASA – judgement on confiscations and spectrum fees dispute

did not turn out well for WBS, who have taken this decision on appeal

 

[Paul Hjul]

wow

does this judgment form precedent to inform how ICASA deals with the mountain of ECN and ECS licence holders on their naughty list though?

 

[dominic]

wow

does this judgment form precedent to inform how ICASA deals with the mountain of ECN and ECS licence holders on their naughty list though?

always nice to have just a little bit of precedent

no, that relates to service licensing. the provisions of the ECA and regulations regarding spectrum licensing are very different.

 

[Sonic2k]

Amazing how ICASA will go after iBurst but Telkom gets away with murder.
I read the document though.

It is patently clear that iBurst is in financial dwang, and has been for some time since they could not afford the fees.

However, what is also more obvious is the insane amounts demanded for such licenses. Are they mad???

 

[dominic]

However, what is also more obvious is the insane amounts demanded for such licenses. Are they mad???

i don't think so
- WBS hold a lot of spectrum, most of it in prime bands like 1.8GHz which they are not using.
- the opportunity cost of not using that spectrum is extremely high and they should be penalised for not using it but rather holding on in the hope that one day a white knight will come riding over the horizon with bags of cash
- ICASA's fees relate to how the spectrum is supposed to be used. So a point-to-point link in most areas in a high band costs next to nothing, but access spectrum below 3GHz costs a lot