Network operator Vodacom says a mounting body of evidence points to direct interference with supposedly impartial testing of cellular network quality conducted recently by its competitor.
"Vodacom has evidence that MTN had the ability and operation in place to influence the results of the testing in their favour," said Alan Knott-Craig, CEO of the Vodacom Group.
Auditors KPMG who were contracted to ensure that the MTN tests were impartial and fair said in a statement that (we) "withdraw our opinion that the test was impartial and fair" until the matter is resolved to its satisfaction. KPMG also said MTN had conceded that it had monitored the test vehicles.
Mr Knott-Craig said Vodacom has evidence that MTN, through a third party, implemented a clandestine surveillance operation to monitor the routes taken by the testing vehicles.
"If MTN was aware of the routes being used, they could downgrade the performance of the Vodacom network by making calls in the immediate vicinity using numerous Vodacom SIM cards.
"MTN also had the ability to measure the frequencies which the Vodacom network was operating on along the testing routes and was able to transmit on the same frequencies using their own equipment, resulting in congestion of the Vodacom network.
"Our evidence shows that MTN hired two helicopters and vehicles which were equipped with signal generators, radio frequency amplifiers and antennae. Vodago SIM cards were deployed in the surveillance vehicles which clandestinely followed the trialling vehicles, and Vodacom has these call records. The operation was co-ordinated from the Protea Hotel in Midrand," said Mr Knott-Craig.
Vodacom has photographs of a signal generator which was loaded on to the helicopter used by MTN. A representative of the manufacturer of the equipment states that the equipment is used to generate a GSM signal and can operate as a portable base station.
Vodacom reiterated its statement that it is amenable to a competent independent body like SATRA conducting accepted quality tests on both networks and reporting on the results.
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