Complexes and residential estates MUST allow competition between Internet service providers
At the very least, governing bodies should reject any potential fibre installation that doesn't allow for multiple ISPs to compete, says the Internet Service Providers' Association.
Housing complex, satellite. Pixabay/Miguel Á. Padriñán
Stephen Grootes interviews Ispa board member Enzio von Diest (Lincke).
Does the complex or housing estate you live in allow competition between fibre internet service providers (ISPs), as they should do?
It's sometimes found that the governing body in charge, for instance a body corporate, imposes a single provider rule where you can't choose your own ISP.
The Internet Service Providers' Association (Ispa) says it's made several calls in the past for communities countrywide to insist on open access fibre optic cable installations.
Enabling consumers to choose which ISP they buy internet access from has been in line with official policy since at least 2016, Ispa says.
That's when government outlined the right of consumers to choose their service provider as a key requirement of the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper.
However this is not being strictly enforced, says Ispa board member Enzio von Diest (Lincke).
"Unfortunately this hasn't really come into effect, so we're hoping that some new developments like a new minister, will bring about some changes in the revised act so that we can actually have our members enforce it and also other industry bodies like the Competition Commission."
"You can think of affordable Internet access almost as a right - it shouldn't only be for wealthy individuals, it should be commonplace and not even something we have to fight for."
Enzio von Diest (Lincke), Board member - Internet Service Providers' Association
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