The Internet Service Providers' Association of SA (ISPA) has named its management committee for 2011/12 that will lead the organisation through a time of significant change and growth in the country's telecommunications industry.
Marc Furman, of Internet Solutions (IS), and Jaap Scholten, of eNetworks, will lead the management committee as joint chairs, while Mike Silber, of Liquid Telecom, will hold the position of treasurer.
Other members of the management committee include Graham Beneke (Neology), David Gentleman (Enyuka Internet Access), Rob Hunter (Neotel), Jenny King (e-Schools Network), Ant Brooks (Future Foundation), Wilmari Hannie (MWeb Connect), and Elaine Zinn (Future Foundation).
Furman thanked the previous members of the management committee for their year's tenure, and said the committee will “follow the course they have plotted towards a more competitive telecoms market in line with ISPA's mandate from its members” this year.
Scholten added that many of the regulatory building blocks for the South African Internet industry's growth are now in place, but that ISPA will continue to lobby government, regulators and the telecoms industry to create a market that is fair and transparent to all Internet users and providers.
ISPA says this year will see the organisation pushing for ICASA to resolve the last few remaining roadblocks to a truly competitive industry, including the delays holding up the spectrum allocations needed for wireless broadband services, as well as the slow pace of local loop unbundling.
“ICASA will also continue to work with international ISP associations and local stakeholders to address global issues such as spam and child porn. Helping to nurture black-owned technology enterprises and supporting technology training in SA schools will also be priorities.”
Formed in 1996, ISPA has historically served as an active industry body, facilitating exchange between the different independent Internet service providers, the Department of Communications, ICASA, operators and other service providers in SA.
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