Massive growth in ISP numbers
The number of ISPs has increased from 104 to the current 603 over the last seven years. This is one of the findings in the latest Internet Access in SA report by IT research firm World Wide Worx.
According to World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck there are more than 400 virtual ISPs of which many are internal corporate ISPs providing Internet services to the company and their employees. Many of these ISPs may however position themselves as bigger players in the market.
Goldstuck also says that the "dirty secret" of the SA telecoms space is that there are numerous unlicensed, unregistered wireless operators conducting business "under the radar". The World Wide Worx MD said that while many may be in anticipation of licensing, many others feel that they will get away with operating without the proper licensing.
The policing of these wireless operators is not easy, especially with an already heavy workload on ICASA and the fact that many of these players operate in smaller towns.
EngineerIT editor Hans van den Groenendaal, however, pointed out that ICASA was improving its spectrum policing capabilities and that the regulator may become far more efficient in governing the airwaves.
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