Telecoms upstart UniNet is not content to wait for eventual full liberalisation of the local ICT sector. It wants to be a major infrastructure player and it is not afraid of taking casualties for the cause. After all, the company has strong revolutionary credentials.

Before rolling out a WiFi service to blanket Knysna, a town that consists of a mix of tourism, retirement wealth and poor neighbourhoods, UniNet was operating in the stormy environment of Mozambique. It helped the country open up its telecommunications market, but had to suffer the indignity of having its equipment confiscated by the South African authorities.