Subscribe

WBS dispute with ICASA goes to court

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 06 Apr 2013
ICASA has been ordered to return seized equipment and not to interfere with the provision of WBS services.
ICASA has been ordered to return seized equipment and not to interfere with the provision of WBS services.

iBurst parent company, Wireless Business Solutions (WBS), was granted an urgent court interdict in the South Gauteng High Court yesterday, which ordered the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to return equipment it seized from WBS' premises earlier this week.

The interdict also prevents ICASA from interfering with WBS providing services to its clients.

The seizure of the radio transmission equipment by ICASA inspectors on Wednesday resulted in the interruption of iBurst and Broadlink services to a number of its subscribers. WBS is parent company to both providers.

WBS and ICASA have been in involved in a dispute over payments the broadband provider owes to ICASA. Last year, WBS owed ICASA some 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 and ICASA have been engaged in negotiations in order to determine what amount is owed. In fact, these negotiations were ongoing while the seizure of equipment took place," WBS said in a statement.

ICASA Response

ICASA responded in a statement and said that it acknowledges the interim high court interdict. "The interim court order is valid until 25 May 2013 and does not exempt WBS from their obligations, as the operator is still required to settle all outstanding radio frequency licence fees."

ICASA said it will remain steadfast in its resolve to recover all outstanding radio frequency licence fees from all affected operators. "To this end, the authority urges all those operators who are in arrears with their radio frequency licence fees to engage with and make payment to the Authority as a matter of urgency."

Share