WISPAU 2024 Review – and look ahead to 2025!
WISPAU has had a transformative year in 2024 with a new board, and a renewed focus on ensuring its objectives to promote and support the wireless ISP’s in Australia by:
- Providing support and assistance to WISP’s members of Australia relevant to the members
- Improving and extending relationships with vendors that have an association with services and products related to the wireless internet services provided by members
- Advocating on matters of relevance to members and the wireless internet service provider industry
- Establishing links with organisations of similar interests in improving the delivery of services to Australia via wireless internet
- Educating on the importance of WISP’s in delivering broadband services and improving connectivity to persons in AustraliaMuch has been completed to establish the groundwork in 2024 for WISPAU and 2025 is set to see WISPAU grow and develop further and deliver value for its members.
Annual General Meeting Election 2024
The WISPAU AGM held in November 2024 elected the following members into the positions –
- Adrian Robertson – President
- John England – Vice President
- Ulick Napier – Secretary
- Allen Cupitt – Treasurer
The new board will be working on driving growth of WISPAU further in 2025 and strengthening the WISPAU community.
Whats Next for WISPAU in 2025
2025 will be another exciting year for WISPAU and WISP’s in Australia.
As well as regular meeting updates monthly online, and new vendor presentations online, WISPAU is progressing work on –
- Online Coverage Map on WISPAU website – the coverage map will allow members to save towers to a location and allow them to be searched online. Members will be able to save and edit towers directly indicating where they are located. WISPAU will then work with BIRRR and the Regional Tech Hub to have this map promoted on their sites with links to the map.
- Attendance at events to promote WISPAU and the importance of WISPs in Australia in 2025 including Commsday Regional and Remote Forum in Canberra, Comms Connect and other related events.
- Work with ACMA to work on faster implementation and trials of vendor equipment in 6Ghz lower band and further discussions on the upper 6Ghz band – advocating the band usage for WISPs to deliver improved services
- Opportunities for training from vendors to members, either online or in person
- Development of a Quality Assurance scheme (or higher compliance achievement award) for WISPs (similar to that already in place for UKWISPA)
- Discounts from Vendors based on WISPAU members (such as Splynx current offer of 10% discount on published price for WISPAU members using their billing platform)
- Further develop a working relationship with ARCIA, ACCAN and IAA and investigate further opportunities with other organisations that complement WISPAU and its objectives.
