City defends fibre optic clash
The City of Windhoek says it has stopped Paratus Telecommunications from digging trenches to expand its own fibre optic infrastructure because the company does not have permission from the municipality to do so.
Since late 2018, Paratus had stopped honouring the municipality's “explicit requirements” regarding their trenching activities and it failed to comply and adhere to relevant conditions and technical standards, the City said.
It added this is a “continuous and uncompromising” modus operandi adopted by Paratus, which trenches on public sidewalks and causes damage to public infrastructure.
The municipality said it has no choice but to assume that such damage is intentional and was forced to take action to stop it.
“Inasmuch as entities are allowed to serve their stakeholders through providing the necessary infrastructure, even in public spaces, this has to happen in an orderly fashion and in the interest of the broader public,” the municipality's communications department said.
The municipality has the right to act “appropriately” to any entity resorting to “self-help” in public spaces, it said.
The City has lodged a dispute with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), which is being adjudicated.
It argues that the amended Local Authorities Act gives it sole custodianship, ownership and administration of land within its jurisdiction, including road reserves.
Telecommunications players have criticised the municipality for obstructing them from expanding their fibre optic networks, pointing out the City's intention to enter the market and accusing it of trying to monopolise the fibre optic infrastructure.
In a recent study done by ISG Namibia, operators felt the City should not have any role in developing fibre optic networks, but that it should have access to shared infrastructure and that there is no need for it to install its own infrastructure at the expense of licenced operators.
CATHERINE SASMAN
Since late 2018, Paratus had stopped honouring the municipality's “explicit requirements” regarding their trenching activities and it failed to comply and adhere to relevant conditions and technical standards, the City said.
It added this is a “continuous and uncompromising” modus operandi adopted by Paratus, which trenches on public sidewalks and causes damage to public infrastructure.
The municipality said it has no choice but to assume that such damage is intentional and was forced to take action to stop it.
“Inasmuch as entities are allowed to serve their stakeholders through providing the necessary infrastructure, even in public spaces, this has to happen in an orderly fashion and in the interest of the broader public,” the municipality's communications department said.
The municipality has the right to act “appropriately” to any entity resorting to “self-help” in public spaces, it said.
The City has lodged a dispute with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), which is being adjudicated.
It argues that the amended Local Authorities Act gives it sole custodianship, ownership and administration of land within its jurisdiction, including road reserves.
Telecommunications players have criticised the municipality for obstructing them from expanding their fibre optic networks, pointing out the City's intention to enter the market and accusing it of trying to monopolise the fibre optic infrastructure.
In a recent study done by ISG Namibia, operators felt the City should not have any role in developing fibre optic networks, but that it should have access to shared infrastructure and that there is no need for it to install its own infrastructure at the expense of licenced operators.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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