WAPA

The following goals have been identified by the WAPA management committee and will be WAPA’s main focus in 2009:

1. Spectrum: Promote an open spectrum assignment framework, ISM sustainability, education and enforcement around correct usage.
2. Membership Growth: Goal of 100 Members by the end of 2009.
3. Secretariat: More structured admin functions and employ a General Manager.
4. Awareness: Wider national representation.
5. Cooperation with other bodies: ISPA, WISPA etc.

The two main barriers to entry for new WAPA members have been identified to be initial cost and licencing requirements.

Because WAPA is on an active drive to sign-up more members we have changed the initial membership fee structure as agreed at our AGM last week.

A R2000 initial membership fee has been removed and we have a new process to help members without the required licensing apply and register for their licences.

Have a look at our Join WAPA page for more information.

WAPA membership grew from 33 members in 2007 to 44 members in 2008.. 33% growth. We would like to see a 50%+ growth rate in 2009.

The 2008 WAPA AGM was held at Eikendal close to Stellenbosch on Friday 14 November at 14:00.

Agenda and slides are here: wapa-agm-2008.pdf

Elected 2009 Management Committee:

• Leon Botes
• Joe Botha
• Dudley Davids
• David Jarvis
• Henk Kleynhans
• Nicola Smith
• Eugene van der Merwe

The Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) welcomes the judgement of the High Court of South Africa delivered this morning to the effect that VANS may indeed self-provide. The judgement vindicates WAPA’s own actions in taking the Minister and ICASA to court regarding the rights of VANS and will hopefully usher in a new age of telecommunications competition in South Africa.

WAPA urges ICASA and the Minister to accept the judgement and to work together with the VANS sector to plot a practical way forward which will serve the interests of SA consumers and put an end to the artificial restrictions placed on the provision of networks in South Africa.

WAPA is looking to employ somebody in a part-time secretary position to help with general admin and workflow functions in WAPA.

Position: Part-time Secretary
Office location: Cape Town
Reporting to: WAPA Exco
Permanent / Contract: Permanent, 5 days a week, half-day, 8:00 to 12:00
Required Start Date: ASAP
Salary: In the range of R3500 – R4500 per month, depending on experience

Summary of position: You will be the first point of contact for WAPA and perform administration duties including: financial admin, debtor management, co-ordinating meetings, member information management.

Skills Required
* Good Telephone Skills
* Internet, email and PC skills
* General book keeping

Personal Attributes
* Good listener
* Integrity, Energy, Intelligence
* Excellent communication and writing skills
* High attention to detail
* Self motivated quick learner
* Proactive, problem solver

Bonus Attributes and skills
* Interest in the telecommunications regulatory environment
* General interest in technology and internet services
* Experience with mailing lists, wiki’s and WordPress (CMS and blogging)

Please contact WAPA if you are interested in the position. We’ll respond and ask for your CV. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The ISPA invited WAPA to endorse the iWeek 2008 conference by chairing the morning wireless session of Thursday, 18 September 2008. WAPA will be represented on the panel discussing wireless matters after a presentation by Jack Unger.

WAPA will again have a stand in the iWeek exhibition area this year to create awareness of our industry.

We encourage WAPA members to attend iWeek. iWeek attendance is free.

17-19 September 2008
The Forum,
Wanderers Building,
The Campus,
57 Sloane Street in Bryanston,
Johannesburg

WAPA asked its membership to respond to a few questions with the idea of creating more awareness in the industry.

Featured Member: Amobia Communications (Pty) Ltd.

How long have you been in business?

Amobia was founded in mid 2005 and we connected our first client in November 2005. About 3 years now.

Give us a quick company profile?

Amobia Communications is an independent network infrastructure provider. Amobia builds outdoor fixed wireless access networks. Our focus is on corporate branch connectivity solutions and high speed point to point links. Consumer services include cost effective wireless broadband internet access and wifi hotspots.

Amobia differentiates itself from many other WISP’s by not bundling any IP transit (internet access) with its range of business services. We aim to be a pure last mile infrastructure provider. This gives us an “inclusive” business model and allows us to partner with ISPs who use the Amobia network to provide internet services.

How and why did you start your wireless business?

We believed there was an emerging need for cost effective, last mile wireless services that could be deployed rapidly by a dynamic and professional company.

Which areas do you cover?

Western Cape: Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Strand, Gordon’s Bay. Gauteng: Johannesburg. North West: Potchefstroom. Eastern Cape: P.E.

What are your plans for the next year?

Our focus is on expanding our Johannesburg network and establishing a footprint in KZN reasonably soon. We are actively promoting our franchise business in non-metro areas.

What is your biggest challenge in the next year?

License conversion is a big one. Amobia hopes to receive an Individual ECNS and ECS license.

What’s new and interesting in your business?

We’re currently developing and testing a “last-yard” (wifi hotspot) distribution model to complement our current “last-mile” services.

2 or 3 memorable events in your business?

The completion of our Cape Town – Stellenbosch ring. This allowed us to be truly independent from Telkom’s network for the first time.

The SchoolWAN project, connecting 100 schools in the Western Cape.

The completion of our first Johannesburg ring and subsequent growing media attention.

Contact Details

www.amobia.com
0861 AMOBIA

WAPA offers consumers a complaints process for matters that can not be resolved between them and their provider directly. When WAPA receives complaints about WISPs providing a bad service, WAPA will investigate, try to resolve the problem and give consumers advice in dealing with the matter.

However, WAPA only has power over WAPA members, as they have agreed to our Code of Conduct. It is very important for consumers to check that their Outdoor Fixed Wireless provider is a WAPA member. The best way to verify this is to look at the list of members on the WAPA website and check that providers have the WAPA logo on the front page of their website.

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The Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) today launched proceedings in the High Court of South Africa aimed at bringing much-needed clarity to the Value Added Network Service (VANS) industry and the rights of holders of VANS licenses.

WAPA is requesting the High Court to make a declaratory order regarding the rights of such VANS licensees to “self-provide”, i.e. to roll out their own networks without the need to lease infrastructure or electronic communications facilities from Telkom or other major licensees. WAPA believes that VANS have held this right since 1 February 2005 after the Minister of Communications published a policy direction to this effect in November 2006, notwithstanding a press release issued on 30 January 2005 in which the Minister attempted to clarify her earlier policy direction.

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Press Release by the Wireless Access Providers’ Association,
Monday 7 April, Cape Town

The Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA) has launched legal action, seeking a high court declaratory order to clarify the rights of Value Added Network Service Provider (VANS) licensees.

May VANS license holders build their own network infrastructure?

This has been a topic of debate for a while and is probably the most important question in the introduction of competition in South Africa’s historically monopolistic telecommunications market.

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