Telecoms company iBurst expects all of its business support services to be restored today, after it won a court interdict on Friday that forced the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) to return equipment.
Last Wednesday, ICASA seized parent company Wireless Business Solutions' (WBS's) equipment in Johannesburg, apparently over an ongoing dispute regarding licence fees. The raid led to the interruption of iBurst and Broadlink services to a number of subscribers.
WBS and ICASA have been involved in a dispute over payments the broadband provider owes to ICASA. Last year, 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. "WBS and ICASA have been engaged in negotiations in order to determine what amount is owed. In fact, these negotiations were ongoing while the seizure of equipment took place," WBS said in a statement.
WBS took the regulator to court and, on Friday, won a bid to have its equipment returned. ICASA was also prevented from interfering with iBurst providing services pending an application for WBS to declare that it is in possession of lawful licences. However, iBurst says the equipment was only returned three hours after the deadline.
iBurst CEO Thami Mtshali says he welcomes the interdict, as it ensures no further disruptions to services related to WBS's ongoing negotiations with ICASA. "Our biggest concern has been the impact of all of this on our customers and the services that we provide them with. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused, and want to assure our customers that there won't be any further disruption to their services related to this matter."
The telecoms provider also alleges that, during the raid, ICASA staff vandalised equipment at the Gallo Manor data centre, despite the fact that the data centre was not covered in the warrant. Mtshali says he is extremely dismayed by the damage to iBurst property.
ICASA spokesperson Paseka Maleka says the regulator has been informed of the allegations and will investigate.
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