The project to make the Knysna municipal area the first African town to become fully WiFi connected is on track, amid objections from Telkom and allegations of underhand tactics.
David Jarvis, CEO of UniNet, the Internet service provider contracted to carry out the project, says the first phase of the project - the roll-out of the network that will link 62 municipal offices - would be completed by the end of this month.
The wireless network will include last mile access and provide rural coverage for many of the informal settlements in the area.
Jarvis, speaking on the sidelines of ITWeb`s Wireless 2005 conference this week, said installation is expected to save the municipality an estimated R4 million in Telkom fees during the five-year contract period.
During the second phase of the project, due for completion by the end of November, Knysna municipality will offer wireless access to residents as part of its public service delivery strategy, providing voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services.
VOIP services, said Jarvis, would be offered on a prepaid and subscriber basis to the community, and some 30 public VOIP phones are to be installed in informal settlements, giving free VOIP and WiFi connectivity to the municipality`s network.
Telkom`s resistance has been one of the bigger challenges facing the project, he noted.
"Telkom has been rather vocal and made accusations about the legality of the installation," Jarvis commented, adding that, despite this, no legal action has been taken.
Since the announcement of the project, Telkom has charged that UniNet is a value-added network supplier (VANS) and the project is in contravention of the Telecommunications Act. The Act states: "A private telecommunication network shall not be provided by means of telecommunication facilities other than facilities made available by Telkom or any other person providing a public switched telecommunication network service."
However, Jarvis maintains that Telkom, like UniNet, is a VANS licence-holder, and said the section in the Telecommunications Act referred to by Telkom relates to private telecommunications networks and not VANS, meaning that it does not apply to UniNet.
While no legal action has yet been taken, Jarvis claims Telkom has been spotted at UniNet`s sites, taking photographs of the municipal buildings where the WiFi installations are being completed.
Meanwhile, UniNet is also piloting a WiFi phone that will offer free VOIP connectivity between VOIP devices, which is to be marketed in the Knysna municipal area.
"Ultimately, a certain amount of minutes on this phone will be free, and thereafter a user will be able to make cheaper calls through least-cost routing, probably at around R1.30 a minute," Jarvis stated.
He also revealed that UniNet has been awarded contracts to set up WiFi networks for two other municipalities in SA, but declined to name them at this stage.
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