The Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) has taken exception to comments made by iBurst CEO Thami Mtshali describing wireless Internet providers as the "Enrons and Masterbonds of the Internet industry".
Last week, Mtshali issued a press release stating his company was concerned about the proliferation of rogue wireless Internet service providers operating in contravention of the Telecommunications Act. He alleged these operators are placing extreme pressure on the country's limited frequency spectrum.
In his statement, Mtshali said iBurst decided to establish a "working relationship" with the South African Police Service. He noted that illegal operators using the public 2.4GHz frequency band for commercial purposes not only degrade the spectrum, but also deny the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) revenue in the form of licence fees. These funds could be used to provide the regulator with the resources it is lacking, he added.
"We hope that consumers will not be seduced by unrealistic promises and remember that doing business with potential criminals will harm SA's war on crime," Mtshali said.
He also said degradation of the available radio spectrum in a certain area will inevitably result from the operations of illegal wireless operators reselling unreliable, saturated and high-latency ADSL lines.
'Sensationalistic, misleading'
However, David Jarvis, WAPA chairman and Uninet CEO, says it is important to note that operators such as iBurst and Vodacom share the public unlicensed spectrum that they use for backhaul in many areas with other unlicensed service providers.
The WAPA reaction also accuses iBurst's statements of being sensationalistic and misleading. For instance, it points out that the Telecommunications Act has been repealed and ICASA does not receive revenue from the licensing of spectrum, as this revenue is paid to the National Treasury.
Jarvis says WAPA has engaged with ICASA on the issue of co-operation to ensure proper enforcement of regulations on the use of the unlicensed spectrum.
As far as iBurst's statements comparing unlicensed service providers to criminals, WAPA says this is unverified and highly emotive.
The WAPA statement also invites iBurst to join it so that issues such as providers illegally using spectrum can be dealt with, and the interests of all those using licensed and unlicensed spectrum, including consumers, can be dealt with.
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