Browsing: Screamer Telecoms

There has finally been some development in the long-running saga over Screamer Telecommunications’ alleged unlawful deal with Sentech to use a portion of the state-owned signal distributor’s spectrum, a matter under investigation by communications regulator Icasa’s complaints and compliance committee. Icasa referred the matter to the committee

Those eager to hear the outcome of the drawn-out saga of Screamer Telecommunications’ allegedly unlawful deal with Sentech to use a portion of the state-owned signal distributor’s spectrum will have to wait until at least November. Screamer appeared before the Independent

Screamer Telecommunications, which is accused using spectrum in the 2,6GHz band without a spectrum licence, has pleaded innocence, with its lawyers arguing on Wednesday that a contract between it and signal distribution company Sentech entitled it to use the spectrum in question and that the real question

The under-resourced and often ineffective Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has a reputation for lacking teeth when it comes to enforcing order in the telecommunications sector it regulates. For example, there’s still no clear outcome in the case of the alleged unlawful use by wireless Internet

State-owned broadcast signal distributor Sentech has suspended six senior employees in an apparent effort by the new management team to demonstrate it will not tolerate deviation from proper procedure

Following several industry complaints and media reports, Screamer Telecoms and Sentech are to be called to face the complaints and compliance committee

Questions have been raised about the SA telecommunications and IT regulator’s complicity in allowing Global Web Intact (GWI) and Screamer to lease spectrum, apparently illegally, from Sentech. This follows the leaking of internal Sentech

Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda says a task team appointed by him in July 2009 had identified “anomalies” and an “illegal operational model” at state-owned Sentech. Though he doesn’t state it explicity, Nyanda is clearly referring to Sentech’s controversial 2007 spectrum deal with Global Web Intact (GWI).

Sentech’s contract that allowed Screamer Telecoms, a wireless Internet access provider, to use the state-owned company’s spectrum to provide WiMax services would not have been unlawful under new draft regulations proposed by the telecommunications regulator.

The cash-strapped state-owned signal distributor, Sentech, appears to have cut an illegal deal to sell wireless broadband spectrum that benefited politically connected businessmen, led by Eddie Funde, the controversial former chairman of the SABC who is now South Africa’s ambassador to Germany.