Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo has denied that the regulator ordered or carried out recent arrests of public Wi-Fi hotspot operators in Kampala.
Thembo said the police operations followed complaints from licensed internet service providers who accused some hotspot operators of interfering with their networks.
“We as UCC have not arrested anyone, but as you know, these companies, Internet service providers, have the ability to have you arrested if you interfere with your business without authorisation,” he said in a televised interview on Monday, October 5.
Police have in recent days targeted Wi-Fi resellers in Kasangati, Kawaala, Kasubi and Kawempe.
Officers reportedly seized routers, cables, boosters and other equipment from operators accused of selling internet without regulatory approval or connecting equipment to telecom infrastructure without permission.
Thembo said UCC would investigate the circumstances behind the operation, but suggested complaints from licensed companies may have triggered police action.
“What I have heard, which I will investigate, is that there have been people who have been selling Wi-Fi through hotspots, while tapping the networks of those licensed companies. So it seems those companies sounded an alarm about this theft to the police,” he said.
He described some of the hotspot operations as parasitic and said the regulator remained concerned about businesses selling public internet services without licences.
“The communication business, like any other business, has to be conducted after licensing. Now, who licensed these public Wi-Fi hotspot providers?” he asked.
Thembo also questioned the equipment being used by some operators.
“Besides, the equipment you are using has to be type approved. We have to know the science behind these devices in order to protect our networks,” he said.
UCC announced a nationwide campaign against unlicensed public Wi-Fi providers in July. The regulator warned that unauthorised operators could expose users to poor service, data privacy breaches and cyber security risks.
It also asked hotspot operators to regularise their businesses or stop operating.
Thembo, however, said UCC had since slowed its enforcement drive as it studies the public Wi-Fi business and considers how operators can be brought into the formal communications sector.
