Thanks for the thoughtful response.

However, I think your argument is flawed. State capitalism and BEE are not related. Government involvement in industry does not equal black empowerment.

I agree that much more needs to be done to fix dysfunctional SOEs, but it would be much better for South Africa’s economic development to encourage private black entrepreneurs to build businesses. Offer incentives, if necessary.

Yes, SA’s future is still at risk from the injustices of the past. And we can have a debate about how to achieve equitable economic outcomes, but I believe the correct route is encouraging private enterprise, not continuing the national-socialistic policies favoured by the Nats.

Regards,
Duncan

Because of lack of proper spectrum policy (spectrum itself is in ample supply), lack of protection against undue interference in unlicenced spectrum and lack of clarity (“VANS may self provide”, “No, I meant that VANS may not self provide”), these rural wireless pioneers have struggled to raise investment or get the proper support they need from government. 

Despite these challenges, 10s of 1000s of South Africans in rural areas have already been connected to the internet and to each other where the big operators did not dare to tread. 

We now have a clear model for freeing up unused spectrum in the UHF bands (as used by the FCC & OFCOM), a clear standard for ensuring non-interference with broadcasters (802.22 <- get it? It's twice as great as 802.11), equipment being manufactured (Carlson Wireless), and even a customer friendly moniker: Super Wi-Fi 

We have the skills, the entrepreneurs, the local relationships, the spectrum need, a spectrum model we can replicate, the standards, the technology and clearly, we have the demand. 

All we need is the DoC to fully put their weight behind the new Super Wi-Fi standard support the rural wireless ISPs to deploy it. 

Henk Kleynhans
Chairperson – Wireless Access Providers Association