Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) has lost a lengthy court battle to stop the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) destroying equipment seized in a raid about a year ago.
While WBS is prepared to appeal the South Gauteng High Court decision, CEO Thami Mtshali says this will be a last resort as court battles are costly. He explains the company had applied to the court to prevent ICASA from destroying the seized equipment.
ICASA raided WBS' premises last April and confiscated the equipment after a lengthy dispute over fees owed to the regulator.
In 2012, WBS owed ICASA R24 million for microwave links it had set up, without informing the regulator.
At that stage, it had applied for some of the links to be licensed, but ICASA refused to sanction the use of spectrum until WBS paid the outstanding fees.
The seizure of the radio transmission equipment by ICASA inspectors led to the interruption of iBurst and Broadlink services to a number of its subscribers. WBS is parent company to both providers.
Mtshali explains the company now has seven days in which to negotiate with ICASA to resolve the impasse. He says this will be first prize as the operator does not "have the money to fund a prolonged legal action".
It is not yet clear whether the fee dispute has been resolved. The interdict against ICASA preventing it from interfering in WBS' operations remains in force.
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