Communications infrastructure provider Broadlink has managed to restore connectivity to the bulk of its network, after the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) yesterday confiscated core switches in Gauteng.
Broadlink, a subsidiary of Wireless Business Solutions (WBS), relies on its parent company for connectivity to supply its more than 1 000 clients with broadband. However, WBS and ICASA have been in a long-running dispute over licence fees.
The matter came to a head yesterday, when ICASA inspectors confiscated WBS's core switches from its Gallo Manor data centre, which caused about 75% of Broadlink's Gauteng network to fail. Gauteng is Broadlink's largest base.
Overtime
Broadlink CEO Mike Brown says this affected Broadlink's customers, as well as those of iBurst, although he cannot comment on behalf of iBurst. Attempts to gain comment from iBurst and WBS were this morning unsuccessful.
Currently, the bulk of Broadlink's Gauteng network is back up after its team "pulled long hours", says Brown. He adds that ICASA also confiscated equipment from its offices, which left the company without phones or connectivity, although it is working to restore this.
A few of Broadlink's long-distance links were also affected, because the switches were based in Gauteng, although this only caused a problem for a few customers, says Brown.
Brown says the raid seems to be part of an old dispute around licence fees, and WBS and ICASA have been in discussions. He notes Broadlink was not notified of the pending raid and adds that the matter is a "bone fide" dispute.
Outstanding
The fee dispute between WBS and ICASA dates back to around April 2010. About a year ago, 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, the parent company of iBurst and Broadlink, argued that the matter was in dispute and it was trying to sort out with ICASA exactly what is owed. WBS, which started operating in 2005, provides connectivity to iBurst and Broadlink, which allows the companies to offer a range of products.
ICASA spokesman Paseka Maleka has said WBS is, in practice, only licensed for three links and the national frequencies. He says other links that have been rolled out will only be sanctioned and licensed when the outstanding fees have been settled.
WBS did not inform ICASA when it rolled out microwave links and this situation is in the process of being corrected, although WBS will only be licensed for the links after payment, which is still outstanding, said Maleka.
He added WBS is also licensed for a second frequency in the 15GHz band, which was assigned on an ad hoc link-by-link basis, and three ad hoc links in 5.9GHz. He says WBS has stated it was under the impression that these ranges were assigned on a national basis and, as a result, have illegally rolled out links on a national basis.
WBS was instructed to apply for the spectrum, which it did, but the licence was rejected by ICASA's council as fees were still outstanding, says Maleka.
ITWeb was promised comment from the regulator this morning, but this did not materialise.
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