Free Wireless Network investigated by ICASA
The biggest community wireless network in South Africa – the Pretoria Wireless User Group (PTAWUG) – recently celebrated their fourth birthday. PTAWUG is the largest network of its kind in the country with over 1 000 members and 78 high sites, nine of which are served by 802.11n equipment.
So far, the free community driven wireless networks have been allowed to grow without much interference from the telecoms regulator, but a recent complaint forced ICASA to take a look at one of the network’s high sites.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) recently requested access to a PTAWUG high site after a complaint by a neighbor about a tower ‘next door’ to her.
An ICASA representative, armed with all the necessary documentation, requested access to the high site and proceeded with signal tests and an audit of the equipment used. The good news is that everything seems to be in order, but this may not be the end of the investigation.
It is understood that ICASA is currently taking a closer look at the high site in Clubview, with specific focus on the frequency used and whether there is a license required for this high site.
There was initial speculation that the full PTAWUG was under investigation by the regulator, but this appears to be inaccurate. The complaint is only related to a single tower with telecoms equipment, and ICASA’s investigation focuses on this site.
PTAWUG currently uses spectrum in the ISM band (typically 5180 MHz to 5800 MHz) which is license exempt, and according to the PTAWUG they have a strong policy in place to ensure that no one on the network exceeds the power limit and that they use only ICASA approved equipment bought from Miro or Scoop.
Legality of Wireless Community Networks
ICASA’s investigation of a PTAWUG high site raises questions about the legality of wireless community networks, but there is currently no real clarity on this issue.
Telecoms regulatory expert Dominic Cull, director at Ellipsis Regulatory Solutions, explains that ICASA is yet to give clear guidelines regarding the licensing requirements related to private community networks.
Cull said that a community network like PTAWUG can fairly easily comply with current laws by getting itself a class ECS and a class ECNS license – priced at R10,000 each. The costs and obligations related to these licenses may however not suit wireless user groups (WUGs) which typically don’t have much in terms of resources.
Another option, Cull explains, is for the WUG to register as a non-profit organization (NPO) or a private electronics communication network and then apply for license exemption at ICASA. These applications are free, and do not come with the same obligations as ECS and ECNS licenses.
But even if a WUG has not gone the route of approaching ICASA for licenses or license exemptions Cull said that they should not have sleepless nights about the issue.
In the case of an ICASA investigation – like the current PTAWUG high site case – the regulator will typically provide the user with clarity about what licenses they require and what they need to do to comply with the current regulations.
When it comes to spectrum usage Cull said that specified bands such as the ISM bands are license exempt, and as long as the WUGs don’t exceed the stipulated power limits and ensure that their equipment is ICASA approved they have nothing to be concerned about in this department.
ICASA unfortunately did not respond to requests for information, and could therefore not shed light on the current investigation and clarify what is required from WUGs to ensure they are on the right side of the law.
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