wireless association

Connection poverty is assassinating a generation of young, entrepreneurial South Africans who represent the future success, or failure, of our embattled nation. It’s also quietly throttling the numerous established businesses, the skills, experience and knowledge their many employees could offer the next batch, and the learnings, revenues, and reinvestments they could make to support the whole event.

The Cybercrimes Act recently signed into law in South Africa does not put WISPs (wireless Internet service providers) and other ISPs under any obligation to monitor their subscribers or report them to the SAPS for online copyright infringement (commonly referred to as piracy).

Our recent regional event at Polokwane on April 15, 2021, was one of our best attended. WAPA members came from several provinces to hear about the new regulatory changes in our sector, the impact of emerging satellite services, how to deal with the fibre challenge, how to cope with new threats in our unlicensed 5.8GHz spectrum, and TV white space opportunities. We know WISPs face significant challenges now. You have to deal with new regulatory requirements that may have a marked effect on your businesses. You face a whole raft of competitor businesses and rival technologies. And your markets are changing very quickly.

The Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) is in the process of renewing its Secretariat contract as part of a good governance process. The new contract will be to run the Secretariat function from July 2019 to June 2024 (5 years). There will be a probationary period for 6 months. The contract will then remain in place as long as the key performance indicators are met based on a 6 monthly review process.