WAPA

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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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WAPA is proud to announce the results of the second annual WAPA industry survey. The first survey was conducted in November 2006 with the formation of WAPA. The wireless fixed access provider (WISP) market showed impressive growth through 2007.

WAPA as a collective represents the second biggest provider of fixed service telecommunication infrastructure in South Africa today. Note that the figures below are but a snapshot of confirmed data from 23 members. WAPA estimates the total number of subscribers in this market segment to be 40 000.

Summary of results:

• Date: November 2007
• Respondents: 23 WAPA members
• Subscribers: 8201, 80% growth, estimated split: 40% consumer market, 60% business market
• Annual Revenue: R53m, 26% growth
• Staff Employed: 267, 41% growth
• Schools and social responsibility projects: 192, 42% growth

The full survey results are available to WAPA members.

WAPA has purchased a spectrum analyser. It will primarily be used for high site maintenance and inspection or dispute resolution. Members will be able to rent the device and WAPA is in the process of arranging a training session for interested members.

The device has a record mode to capture the RF profile of a high site using a mobile computer. The data can then be analysed off-site. It includes software for visualisation and graphing.

The new WAPA committee for 2008 was elected at the General Meeting on Friday 30 November.

From left to right: Amelia, Nicola, Joe, David, Eugene and Leon

Update 2007-12-07:

Portfolios for the new WAPA Committee:

Joint Chairs: Johann Botha and David Jarvis
New members: Nicola Smith
Enforcement: Amelia Goor and Leon Botes
Communications: Johann Botha
Treasurer: Eugene van der Merwe
Regulatory: Abraham van der Merwe (co-opted)
Code of Conduct & Constitution: David Jarvis

The WAPA general meeting will be taking place on Friday the 30th of November 2007 at the Capetonian hotel at 2pm. Read the rest of this entry »

WAPA has expressed disappointment at the release of ICASA’s draft licence conversion matrix. According to this document ICASA has not mapped a single one of WAPA’s 38 members as Electronic Communications Network Services (ECNS) licencees. ECNS licences are required to own and operate a wireless network to provide broadband services. Read the rest of this entry »

The next WAPA General Members Meeting will be on the 30th of November 2007 at 14:00.

Venue to be confirmed.