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For years, satellite internet access technology was viewed as expensive, high-latency, and relevant only in niche scenarios. That perception is now obsolete. This shift in thinking was strongly reinforced during a presentation by Dawie de Wet, Group CEO of Q-KON, at the Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) 20th Anniversary Conference held in Johannesburg in March, which drew a record 140 attendees and 24 sponsors.

Dynamic spectrum licensing and LEO satellite services signal a new era for WISPs and wireless connectivity across South Africa. The Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and kicked off the festivities in March at its annual Gauteng industry event.

There is something wonderfully fitting about marking twenty years of fighting for wireless connectivity in South Africa at precisely the moment the industry’s two biggest game-changers are finally landing.

The digital divide in South Africa just got its most credible solution yet. After years of planning, trials, and technical validation, dynamic spectrum sharing has moved from regulatory aspiration to proven reality – and it happened faster than anyone in the industry expected.

The South African media landscape has been saturated with Starlink coverage for months. Every ministerial statement, every regulatory development, every parliamentary objection becomes headline news. Yet amid this relentless coverage, a curious question emerges: why Starlink specifically?

Everyone's talking about artificial intelligence. And I mean everyone. The hype reminds me of the fanfare around 5G's launch – all promise, waiting to see delivery. We built and enabled those towers everywhere, and now? Well, let's just say the revolution was somewhat overstated.

Imagine this: your WiFi router knows when you've fallen down the stairs, whether you're having trouble breathing, and exactly how many times you've visited the loo today. It can also detect when your teenager is sneaking out at night and monitor your elderly parent's daily routine from across the country. Most unsettling of all, it can do this through walls, in complete darkness, and without your knowledge.

What a week it's been! The 2025 WAPALOZA Conference wrapped up in Johannesburg this week, and I'm still buzzing from the energy, insights, and genuine passion for connectivity that filled the room.

We've all heard the famous parable of the chessboard: start with one grain of rice, double it on each square, and by the time you reach the halfway point, you've got 43 tons of rice. But it's the second half of the chessboard where things get truly mind-bending. We're not just talking about rice anymore – we're talking about artificial intelligence, and folks, we've just entered that exponential second half.

The Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) is proud to announce the return of WAPALOZA, South Africa’s premier event for the wireless, fibre, and satellite connectivity ecosystem.