WIRELESS JOY FOR SPTC CUSTOMERS

MBABANE - Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) customers continued to enjoy wireless services after last week’s announcement of a major switch-off.
The announcement was to the effect that many of its wireless products, such as Wi-Fi, would be discontinued.

However, by Thursday, many customers of the telecommunications  public enterprise were still accessing Wi-Fi services.
Several Wi-Fi hot spots could still be accessed in some of the major business centres in the country last week. This is despite earlier reports in which the giant telecommunications company reported so over a week ago.

Wi-Fi is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet wirelessly using radio waves.
Since it uses radio waves, this makes s it cheaper than conventional cellular communication.

Wireless

On January 31, it was reported that SPTC had switched off all its wireless network services.
These included services such as Mi-Fi, fixed terminal services and Wi-MAX products. Mi-Fi is a name used for wireless routers that act as mobile Wi-Fi hot spots.
Wi-MAX is also similar to Wi-Fi  but can reach longer distances. SPTC’s press statement came after MTN won an appeal against the company.

When SPTC started using the wireless services again last year, MTN filed an appeal against that.
The matter was then referred for arbitration by Judge Mumcy Dlamini.

MTN stated in court that the services introduced by SPTC were in violation of an earlier arbitration award.
SPTC had earlier been ordered to switch off the mobile component of its network.

Judge Michael Ramodibedi set aside a ruling made earlier by Dlamini, ordering SPTC to switch off its wireless network services.
The Times SUNDAY news team visited some of the wireless hot spots around the Manzini-Mbabane corridor.
It was discovered that several of the wireless hot spots were fully operational. Some of the wireless hot spots, also known as Wi-Fi pots, were still functional including those used by some business.
Reporters visited three SPTC internet cafes where they found that Wi-Fi spots could still be accessed.

Unaware

Consultants in the internet cafes appeared to be unaware that the services were supposed to have been switched off.
“We still have Wi-Fi,” said a consultant at Mbabane Plaza Cafe when asked for the service.
She initially wondered if the service was still available, after which she asked her colleague if it was still functional. The Wi-Fi access was not just available inside SPTC’s internet Cafe but also within the Plaza.
Reporters moved around the Plaza after connecting to the network and found that it was accessible.

Seven other hot spots were also accessible at the Plaza.
The Wi-Fi hot spots belonged to other business in the Plaza but they also had not been switched off.
This was also similar at the Corner Plaza in Ezulwini.

It was found that at least 11 Wi-Fi hot spots were still available despite SPTC stating they had been closed.
Reporters purchased a voucher which allowed access of the internet connection at the corner Plaza. Consultants there also said Wi-Fi was still accessible.
It could be accessible even outside the building which houses several other businesses at the Plaza.

The cafe is also owned by SPTC which over a week ago announced that all the wireless communications had been switched off.
In Manzini, consultants at the internet cafe situated inside Bhunu mall said the Wi-Fi access had been switched off there.

Connect

This was after they were asked for a voucher to connect to the internet.
“It was switched off immediately after the announcement,” said a consultant.
This was not the same at Riverstone Mall where Wi-Fi access was still available.

Several other Wi-Fi hot spots were also detected at the Riverstone Mall.
The SPTC internet Cafe was also still functional at the mall.

Reporters there also purchased a voucher which they used to access internet connection using Wi-Fi.
In a press statement released on January 31, SPTC said:
“In complying with the judgment of the honourable Court, SPTC has switched off the mobile component that allows it to provide fixed wireless, wireless and mobile communication services in the Kingdom of Swaziland.”

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