The brief history of Blio..

Abz and Joe, had this idea to develop a security hardened operating system somewhere in 1999. We also had an interest in embedded systems and gadgets in general.

Early in 2001 we founded a company called the Blio Corporation (Pty) Ltd. We ran this in parallel with Frogfoot, with the idea to use Blio as a platform to launch products based on the IP developed inside Frogfoot.

Joe came up with the name and logo, which was inspired by the moonjellies in the Two Oceans Aquarium (Cape Town),

Abz’s had a strong background in writing device drivers and working on electronics projects. Joe was interested in management systems for network appliances.

Blio developed an Outdoor Fixed Wireless CPE (customer premises equipment) operating system. Basically a custom Linux system to run on small routers. Abz build the backend. Joe built the font-end. The biggest advantage of this system was to make CPE units field-upgradeable.

This CPE OS later evolved into the software used on Amobia’s network today.

In partnership with Mark (from CLUG) we developed and sold a cost effective 2U rackmount server casing. Frogfoot and Amobia has many of these casings in production environments.

We also developed a Bandwidth Manager (QoS device), but never fully completed the project.

In the process of building the CPE and the QoS devices we started building a unified web based management system framework used across all our products. This user interface is also used for our PBX.

Around 2005, Blio changed it’s focus towards the emerging VoIP market and started building an IP PBX for the small and medium business market. The idea was to run Asterisk on a low power embedded device with no moving parts. At this point Blio took on more shareholders. We became 5 directors.

Nelius and Gerhard have a strong electronic engineering background and we knew them from Stellenbosch days. Thomas has a long history in building PBX systems and developing software for embedded systems. We knew Thomas through the Cape Linux User Group.

Hardware development happens en Stellenbosch. Software development, marketing and sales run from Cape Town.

Where are we now?

We completed the first IP PBX product and we are close to completing all the required tests for ICASA certification. We have some plans to build derivative models, with PRI interfaces and maybe an entry level model with less analog ports. We are actively seeking distribution channels and integration partners for the PBX.

The CPE OS is moving forward. Amobia, which in the past only provided “last mile” services, is now creating a wider distribution network using Wifi hotspots. Let’s call this a “last yard” service. The new hotspot integrated CPE will be deployed soon.

It’s all about your story. I’ve been talking to journalists about Amobia again so I figured I’d share some stories about why we’re so uber groovy..

Future plans..
Amobia has three ways to expand its coverage:
1) Infrastructure in metro areas operated by Amobia: CPT, JHB, DBN, PE etc.
2) Infrastructure in the rest of SA, operated by Amobia franchises
3) Wifi Hotspot network

Amobia is unique in that it can deploy infrastructure with an organic business model, not needing large capital investment. Most other telecoms networks are very capital intensive. Unlike fibre networks, Amobia’s technology can be deployed rapidly.

Amobia’s technology is cost effective enough that a new franchise can break even and make a profit within a year with only 70 customers.

Amobia is different to most other WISPs (outdoor fixed wireless providers) because of its focus on the business market in metro areas. Amobia’s wireless last mile service is a viable alternative to Telkom’s Diginet service, but is more cost effective and faster to deploy. We find that our customers prefer dealing with a smaller and more dynamic infrastructure provider. Amobia has managed to secure contracts with many “blue chip” companies because of our remarkable service levels.

We had a customer which phoned us at 8:00 one day. A truck had just driven over Telkom infrastructure that connected their distribution depo. They would lose millions of Rands per day without connectivity to this site. Amobia installed two 1Mbps links for them that same day and everything was operational by 18:00 that evening. Try get that kind of service from anybody else.

With copper cable theft on the rise it’s happens more and more that Amobia is helping clients avoid major connectivity disasters.

If you are an Amobia customer and you have a story to tell, please let me know.

That ITWeb article I was talking about yesterday: Amobia builds Joburg network

Obviously I never said this: “He agrees that his company is essentially building infrastructure, although it only has a value-added network service licence and so strictly speaking it cannot self-provide.”

Yes, we can.

Boiler? Yeah, until recently I also did not know what a boiler plate was. It’s PR lingo.

A boiler plate is a paragraph that describes a company and its products and gets included at the bottom of press releases. The idea is to capture the key attributes of a company. It’s like a poem about a business.

I’m busy refining some boiler plates.. what would you say are the most relevant ideas to include?

Frogfoot:

Frogfoot Networks is an independent technology company providing innovative internet services and open source solutions. Frogfoot’s service offering includes: Wifi Hotpots, ADSL, Linux Virtual Servers, VPNs and Web Hosting. Frogfoot was founded in 2000 and is based in Newlands, Cape Town.

More info:
www.frogfoot.com
0860 KERMIT

Amobia:

Amobia Communications, founded in 2005, is an independent network infrastructure provider. Amobia builds outdoor fixed wireless access networks. Amobia’s focus is on corporate branch connectivity solutions and high speed point to point links. Consumer services include cost effective wireless broadband internet access and wifi hotspots.

More info:
www.amobia.com
0861 AMOBIA

Blio:

The Blio Corporation, founded in 2005, designs embedded systems and builds cost effective, scalable and dependable solutions for the next generation converged public network. Blio offers innovative IP PBX telephony solutions and platforms for internet service delivery.

More info:
www.blio.com

Teraco:

Teraco Data Environments, founded in 2007, is an independent datacentre infrastructure provider and the first company in South Africa to offer vendor-neutral colocation facilities. Teraco is focused on building high quality datacentres for corporate businesses, carriers and internet service providers. Teraco’s business model creates a network value effect by building open and competitive environments where the cost of interconnection tends to zero.

More info:
www.teraco.co.za
0860 TERACO

WAPA:

The Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA), established in 2006, is a non-profit industry representative body acting as a collective voice for outdoor fixed wireless operators in South Africa. WAPA’s primary objective is to ensure the sustainability of the wireless access services market. WAPA is positioned to be an interface between government, it’s membership and consumers and promotes self-regulation of the industry.

More info:
www.wapa.org.za

Amobia completed the roll-out if its first network ring in Johannesburg this week. There has been a big demand from Amobia’s clients for wireless last mile services in JHB.

This first JHB ring covers the following areas:
Johannesburg: Soweto, North Cliff Area, Randburg, Sandton, Gallo Manor, Midrand, Edenvale, Bedfordview, Linksfield, JHB CBD, Kensington, Rivonia, Riveria, Norwood, Randburg Waterfront, Bryanston.

More coverage will be created based on demand from clients.

With network infrastructure in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and North West province, Amobia is the leading South African outdoor fixed wireless infrastructure provider, especially in the corporate and business market.

Amobia is gunning for an Individual ECNS license and believes it has a good chance of being one of the view VANS to receive a license, allowing it to build national network infrastructure.

Amobia is a founding member of the Wireless Access Provider Association. WAPA and Amobia recently initialed legal action asking for a high court declaratory order to clarify the rights of Value Added Network Service Provider (VANS) licensees.

Amobia is an Outdoor Fixed Wireless Infrastructure provider offering Last Mile access services including cost effective Consumer Broadband, Wifi Hotspots, innovative Connectivity Solutions for Businesses and high speed Point to Point links.

More info:
www.amobia.com
0861 AMOBIA

In the gym today I thought to myself, lately I feel like I’m doing a crash course in journalism and marketing. The 3 years in 6 months version. I always had fun with branding and design, but writing and marketing seems to take much more time and effort.

I’ve been reading unhealthy amounts of Seth Godin (books and blog). I spend hours reading blogs and thinking about marketing ideas. I’ve become responsible for WAPA’s internal and external communication and I seem to have taken on the same role in Frogfoot, Blio and Amobia.

I’ve really started to notice marketing around me. I can’t help but think up PR strategies. I keep looking at the word of mouth potential in new ideas. An example would be the concept of “box designs” I found in Agile project management.

I think the most important thing I’ve learnt is that.. marketing begins very early in the design of a new product or service. You can’t slap it on later. You need a story. “Pull” or self perpetuating (viral) marketing is way more (cost) effective than “Push” (broadcast) marketing. But you knew that.

I now collect contact details for journalists. I have a pretty long list. I was up till 2:00 writing and sending out a press release about the Frogfoot Hotspot business model.

I guess I enjoy this because.. let’s be honest, it’s just way more fun spreading ideas that are cool, innovative and worth talking about. Orders of magnitude more fun than trying to sell commodity services where you can’t really add value.. like the current state of the ADSL business in this country where most people are just forced to self what Telkom sells, the way Telkom sells it.

I’m not sure if I’m any good at this marketing thing (yet), but it seems to keep me amused. I guess it’s the hacker approach to marketing, just do it, figure it out along the way, pick up the lingo and “wing it”, over-focus a bit and then it becomes easy. It can’t be that hard right? (-:

Question:
I am investigating the feasibility of opening and operating a WISP. What are the legal requirements from ICASA to operate in the open 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Wifi spectrum?

Answer:
I don’t generally give advice to people thinking about starting new WISPs, so I’ll keep this short:

You need a VANS license. Don’t use 2.4Ghz.
The rest is undefined.

T. I. A.
..from Blood Diamond

At the end of last year I gave a presentation at *Camp about Telecommunications Licensing in South Afrca. At some point I talked about what I believe the intention of EC Act was and the potential of this new technology agnostic (horizontal) licensing model.

I talked about “letting the tiger out of the cage”.. by allowing any of the 500+ VANS licensees to build their own network infrastructure and introducing a new era of competition in the market. It’s easy to see why any (all) of the incumbent telecoms payers do not what this to happen.

More options and choices for consumers will result in better service levels. Empowering the smaller and more dynamic entrepreneurial VANS licensees will result in an open and adaptive market.

I’m going to skip the part about ICASA and the Department of Communication’s many failures.. we all know the story.

Something changed last week. With a bit of luck we’re about to get clarity on the rights of VANS to “self provide”. This is a key question for the ongoing license conversion process. For the last 3 years there have been disputes about the rights of VANS to build infrastructure. This lack of clarity worked well for the incumbent players (FUD tactics).

One can only guess why ICASA and the DoC were so content to maintain this state of uncertainty on such and important topic for so long.

The Wirless Access Providers Association (WAPA) and Amobia filed papers in the Witwatersrand High Court last week requesting a declaratory order to clarify the rights of VANS. If WAPA is successful, it will be clear that VANS may self provide and that they must be converted to have ECNS licenses.

WAPA becomes the first group to stand up and say: “the minister is not wearing any clothes”… as everybody suspected.

Read more on the WAPA website and find related stories in the WAPA press archive.

It’s been a while.. let’s see what I’ve been busy with and give you some random news..

• Wrote a press release for WAPA’s legal action.
• The Amobia Joburg network is about to go live. The first Joburg ring is up. Just need to feed it some Internet access.
• Been spending most of my time on the new Frogfoot Website. Very close to done. The blog part is looking good. Still writing some content.
• I could not make it to the last GeekDinner, it was the same day as Mia’s birthday. But my name is on the list for the May GeekDinner. I’m happy to see that the GeekDinner movement is progressing well in it’s decentralised and democratised form.. with the help of a few pillars in the community, naturally.
• A good friend (Dr. Strangelove), who lives in England now will be in Cape Town over the next few days. Let’s hope for some nice weather. I guess it’s time to say goodbye to the summer soon.
• The Amobia Suicide Gorge walk was good fun. I put some pics up. One of the less fit people walked from about 9 AM to 9 PM. Hehe.
• This weekend is the annual Amobia company weekend. Somewhere along the West Coast. Involves paint-ball and 4×4 driving tracks.
• Mia and I went to World of Birds in Hout Bay last weekend. Nice place. We did Butterfly World the week before that. I’m kinda running out of weekend entertainment venues for 2yr olds.. please post some suggestions. Really, please.
• Mia seems to like Red Hot Chili Peppers tunes.
• Attended a Neotel metro-ethernet launch last week. All I can say is “pfffftt”. What lame presenters.
• I’m thinking of doing a presentation about how Frogfoot is using WordPress as a CMS with some WordPress security tips at the next WPCTP meetup.

..back to editing Frogfoot website content again.

little wireless standard that couldn’t

Been a while since I wrote something here. I guess I’ve been busy. Let’s see, a few random updates…

• Had a nice weekend in Pringle Bay with friends, got some sun.
• Visited the Endeavor crew on the 28th floor of the LG building a while ago. Nice views. Still no real scope to work together it seems.
• Been working on the web interface for the next Blio CPE software, which will allow Amobia to build outdoor (integrated) hotspots.
• Had an Amobia meeting last night and looked at some financial stats. Amobia grew its revenue by about 110% over its last financial year 2006 vs 2007. Amobia is about 2.25 years old now. Well on it’s way to being a successful business when it gets to the magic 3 years figure.
• We’ve spend a good number of hours planning, designing and developing the new Frogfoot website. Looking pretty awesome. It’s built on Wordpress. We should have all the themes and styles done by tomorrow, which leaves me to write and update some content. Should launch early next week… but a few beers after work on Friday are in order. The new Frogfoot blog design is even nicer than the Swimgeek blog.. I’m going to have to think up something new for my blog design (-:
• There’s been a few interesting developments on the VANS license conversion front. More sports to follow soon. We have a WAPA committe meeting tomorrow afternoon.
• There has been good interest in the Blio IP PBX lately. A number of website queries and interest from PBX solution companies. There are a few demo units out in the field and we’ve had some good feedback. Working on improving the documentation and making it easier to get going after buying a PBX.
• Frogfoot’s hotspot sales are starting to pick up. We’ve done some work on an easy sign-up process for hotspot operators and we have a new all singing and dancing hotspot software revision due within the next month. It will have much better integration with our accounting system and better automation of things like debit order forms and profit sharing payment notices.
• Amobia’s touch rugby team has been on a winning streak, they are top of the log at the moment.
• Frogfoot is now an Extreme Networks partner. We’re thinking of cabling up Teraco with purple cat6 cable.
• Attended a very interesting meeting about IPP’s (independent power providers) this week. Had a bit of a feeling of deja vu.. seems the electricity market in this country is currently where the telecoms market was 10+ yrs ago.
• Looks like I’ll be in Wellington this weekend and maybe visit the Stellenbosch Fresh Goods Market again.

Catch you on the flipside, crazy kids.

I realised I’ve been blogging for more than a year now.. about 14 months.

I watched Into the Wild at the Labia tonight. Pretty good, a bit boring at times but a nice way to end a busy week. Definitely not a Hollywood ending. “Happiness is only real when shared”. Makes sense.

Monday I had a VC meeting. It’s a nice feeling to convince people that your idea will fly when they start out being very sceptical. I’ve been working on the Teraco Spec Sheet and Price List document since Monday.. it’s almost ready. Can’t show it to you just yet, maybe next week. The Teraco business plan is turning into an impressive document.

Tuesday I attended a full day WAPA strategy workshop in Noordhoek. Monkey Valley is a really nice setting to get away and single-task for a day. I think it was very productive.

Wednesday was mostly a Teraco day which ended a long negotiation phase.. and turned out being positive. Had a Frogfoot staff dinner at the Brass Bell. Always nice to visit Kalk Bay.

Thursday I visited Parliament, wearing my WAPA co-chairman hat. Had a meeting with Dene Smuts (MP), the DA spokesperson on communications. I’m happy to report there is a person in parliament with a clue. I was very impressed by her understanding of our industry. We mostly talked about the challenges our members are facing in the license conversion process.

Friday was a full day Frogfoot dev team design session. These sessions can be real mind benders, chewing on lots of complexity and distilling it into a plan. Always fun.

The Frogfoot Portal is the heart of our business.. it’s an automation and configuration management system, a network policy database, it manages IP allocation, (ADSL, Wifi, Dial) Radius, Timesheets, DNS.. etc, etc. You get the idea, we’ve been working on it for about 4 years now.

Frogfoot has written it’s own accounting system from scratch over the last ~14 months and we had to plan making it live before the new financial year. We built a debit order automation module last week. Some of the next steps are to better define a “product layer” to manage our LDAP tree, add an order queue, more product focused user interfaces, a product builder tool and integrate all this with our new general ledger.

Sounds like fun?.. makes you mildly sad you forgot all that accounting knowledge from school days.

Amobia is doing well.. we’re about to light up the first Joburg ring.

We added the new PBX to the Blio website.

This made my week.

Ok (fellow) crazy kids, must sleep now.