The Wireless Access Providers Association (Wapa) has taken exception to iBurst CEO Thami Mtshali describing the body as the "Enrons and Masterbonds of the Internet industry".
Last week, Mtshali issued a press release stating his company had concerns about the proliferation of rogue wireless Internet service providers (ISPs). These ISPs operate in contravention of the Telecommunications Act and place extreme pressure on the country's limited frequency spectrum, he noted.
In his statement, Mtshali said iBurst had decided to establish a "working relationship" with the South African Police Services. He added that illegal operators using the public 2.4GHz frequency band for commercial purposes degrade the spectrum. They also deny the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) revenue in the form of licence fees, which could be used to provide the regulator with the resources it lacks, he commented.
"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."
He explained that 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.
Misleading claims
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.
Wapa's reaction also accuses iBurst's statements of being sensationalistic and misleading. For instance, it points out that the Telecommunications Act has been repealed and that ICASA does not receive revenue from the licensing of spectrum, as this revenue is paid to National Treasury.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 to iBurst's statements comparing unlicensed service providers with 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 addressed.
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