TECHCONET CC – TERMS AND CONDITIONS & ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY (AUP)

Last Updated: July 2026

1. INTRODUCTION & LICENSING

1.1. Contractual Agreement: These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the contractual relationship between Techconet CC (Registration Number: 2003/039340/23), physically situated at 31 Lobelia Street, Riversdale, 6670 (“Techconet”), and any person, business, or minor’s legal guardian utilizing our electronic communications services, networks, vouchers, or managed accounts (“the Customer”).

1.2. Licensing Status: Techconet CC is a legally authorized provider of electronic communications services and electronic communications networks in South Africa, operating under the following compliance frameworks issued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA):

• ECS Exemption Reference: CAS-215812-J3C2J4

• ECNS License Number: 2905/CECNS/OCT/2024

1.3. Explicit Acceptance: By purchasing, activating, or logging into a Techconet Wi-Fi Voucher, Managed Hostel Account, or utilizing a Fixed Wireless (PPPoE/Static) connection, the Customer explicitly agrees to be bound by these Terms and the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) contained herein.

2. RICA & POPI ACT COMPLIANCE (DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY)

2.1. RICA Verification: In accordance with the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA), Techconet will not activate or maintain any monthly Fixed Wireless subscription or monthly Hostel Account until the Customer (or legal guardian) has successfully provided:

• A valid, clear copy of their South African Identity Document / Smart Card or valid International Passport.

• An official proof of residential address not older than three (3) months.

• Note: Standard prepaid hourly/daily Wi-Fi Vouchers are exempted from upfront RICA documentation but remain subject to localized MAC-binding and network log compliance.

2.2. POPIA Compliance & Consent: In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), Techconet processes all personal information strictly to perform its contractual duties and maintain network compliance. By subscribing or activating a service, the Customer explicitly consents to Techconet processing their data and/or their child’s data (Names, ID numbers, contact details, billing data, and hardware MAC addresses). Techconet guarantees that no personal information will be sold, traded, or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

2.3. Legal Log Retention: In terms of South African cyber-compliance laws, Techconet is legally mandated to capture and securely store metadata and connection logs (including assigned internal IP addresses, hardware MAC addresses, authentication timestamps, and session durations) for a statutory period of 180 days.

• These logs contain metadata only (not the contents of communications or browsing history).

• Logs are encrypted and will only be disclosed to law enforcement or statutory bodies upon receipt of a valid judicial subpoena or legal directive.

3. SERVICE PROVISION, EQUIPMENT & PARENTAL PERMISSION

3.1. Best Effort Service: All broadband packages, vouchers, hostel accounts, and wireless links are provided on a “Best Effort” basis. Wireless throughput speeds may fluctuate due to atmospheric conditions, line-of-sight interference, localized network congestion, or general upstream provider constraints.

3.2. Proprietary Hardware & Recovery Rights (Fixed Wireless): All outdoor antennas (CPEs), mounting brackets, power-over-ethernet (PoE) injectors, routers, and structural cabling installed by Techconet at a Customer’s private premises remain the sole proprietary property of Techconet CC, unless purchased outright through an explicit, separate invoice paid in full.

• Right to Recover: Techconet reserves the right to enter the premises (by prior arrangement) to recover its equipment if a Fixed Wireless account is canceled or suspended for non-payment for more than 30 days.

• Financial Liability: If the Customer denies physical access for equipment recovery, or if the hardware is lost, stolen, or structurally damaged while in the Customer’s possession, the Customer accepts direct liability for the full retail replacement value of the hardware.

3.3. Fixed Wireless Installation & Relocation Charges:

• Sign-Off: The Fixed Wireless Customer or an authorized adult representative must designate and approve the physical location of the antenna, entry holes, cabling run, and internal router during installation. Once completed, this constitutes final sign-off.

• Relocation Costs: Any subsequent request to move, adjust, shift, or re-install equipment (e.g., moving a router to another room) constitutes a new, fully billable service ticket charged at Techconet’s standard rates.

3.4. Force Majeure & Power Surges: Techconet is explicitly exempt from liability for any hardware damage, network downtime, or service failure caused by environmental lightning strikes, static discharges, electrical grid surges, or load-shedding cycles. Fixed Wireless customers are strongly encouraged to protect premises equipment using certified surge-protection adapters.

3.5. Fault Reporting & Customer-Induced Costs: Before dispatching a technical team to a Fixed Wireless site, the Customer must perform basic troubleshooting steps requested by Techconet support. If a technician is deployed and the fault is discovered to be customer-induced (e.g., cables unplugged, altered configurations, physical damage), the Customer will be billed a full call-out fee.

3.6. Parent/Guardian Consent for Hostel Service: By completing the online checkout, making payment, and signing up for a Hostel Account (such as the Hostel Wi-Fi service), the Customer declares that they are the lawful parent or legal guardian of the student, and hereby grants explicit legal permission and authority for their child to access and use the Techconet network infrastructure and assigned account within the school hostels.

4. BILLING, RENEWALS & CANCELLATION

4.1. Monthly Subscriptions (Fixed Wireless & Hostel Accounts): Monthly fees are billed and payable strictly in advance on or before the 1st calendar day of each month. Accounts that remain unpaid by midnight on the 3rd of the month will be subjected to automated system suspension.

4.2. Notice of Cancellation: Monthly contract subscriptions run on a month-to-month basis. To terminate a Fixed Wireless subscription or a monthly Hostel Account, the Customer must provide one (1) full calendar month’s written notice via email to admin@techconet.co.za. (For example, notice given on any day in July will mean the contract terminates at the end of August).

4.3. Vouchers & Hostel Term Alignments: * Prepaid Wi-Fi Vouchers (hourly, daily, or capped) are strictly non-refundable once generated, issued, viewed, or activated.

5. ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY (AUP)

The Customer agrees to use the network, vouchers, and accounts purely for lawful purposes. Techconet maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding the following actions over its network:

5.1. Criminal Activity & Cybercrimes: Any utilization of the network to commit fraud, identity theft, phishing, unauthorized system hacking, or digital extortion is prohibited and constitutes a material breach in terms of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020.

5.2. Child Exploitation Material (Absolute Zero-Tolerance): The transmission, downloading, hosting, or viewing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or child pornography is strictly prohibited. Any detected incidence will result in immediate service/account termination without notice, and the Customer’s profile, logs, and metadata will be handed over directly to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Film and Publication Board (FPB) as mandated by law.

5.3. Copyright & Intellectual Property Infringement: The utilization of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, bit-torrent networks, or illicit streaming portals to download or distribute pirated, copyrighted music, movies, games, or software is explicitly illegal.

5.4. Network Security & Malicious Acts: The execution of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, port scanning, packet sniffing, or intentional propagation of computer viruses, malware, or trojans into the Techconet ecosystem or wider internet is strictly banned.

5.5. Unsolicited Bulk Email (Spam): The network may not be used to transmit bulk, unsolicited commercial electronic messages (Spam) or host open mail relays.

6. PROTECTION OF MINORS & ONLINE SAFETY (HOSTEL & GENERAL SAFETY)

6.1. Shared Responsibility: While Techconet strives to maintain a clean internet ecosystem, parents and legal guardians bear primary responsibility for supervising the digital content consumed by minors using their connections or accounts.

6.2. Hostel Core Network Security (Cloudflare Family DNS): To assist parents in safeguarding students within school hostels, Techconet routes all hostel account traffic through Cloudflare’s Family Security DNS servers (1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3) at a network level. This system automatically filters out and blocks access to a global database of known malware, phishing sites, and explicit/adult material.

6.3. Endpoint Device Restrictions: Because network-level filters cannot completely manage third-party apps, social media tracking, or device usage windows, parents are required to actively enforce endpoint controls. Techconet strongly recommends that parents install and configure applications such as Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time directly onto their child’s phone, tablet, or laptop to restrict screen time, monitor app downloads, and ensure holistic safety.

7. TAKE-DOWN NOTICES

7.1. Statutory Agent Portal: In terms of Section 75 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA), any party seeking to file a formal, lawful request to remove content hosted on or traversing our network infrastructure due to alleged copyright infringement or unlawful behavior must submit a signed, written Take-Down Notice containing all statutory prerequisites to: admin@techconet.co.za.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & INDEMNITY

8.1. Limitation of Liability: Techconet CC, its members, technicians, and agents shall under no circumstances be held financially or legally liable to the Customer or any third party for any consequential, direct, indirect, incidental, or punitive financial losses, lost corporate profits, business interruption, loss of data, or general damages resulting from network downtime, cable breaks, equipment failures, load-shedding outages, or system latency.

8.2. Indemnification: The Customer irrevocably indemnifies Techconet CC against all legal claims, civil actions, damages, costs, or expenditures raised by any entity arising directly or indirectly from the Customer’s use of the connection, vouchers, accounts, or any breach of this AUP.

9. AMENDMENTS

9.1. Right to Modify: Techconet CC reserves the right to modify, adapt, or completely update these Terms and the structural components of its AUP at any point to adjust to new legislative changes or network upgrades. The prevailing, active version will always be publically accessible on the primary domain: https://tcnet.co.za/.

10. GOVERNING LAW & LEGAL JURISDICTION

10.1. Domestic Law: These Terms, their interpretation, and the performance hereunder shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

10.2. Local Jurisdiction: The Customer consents to the physical jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s Court in Riversdale for any formal legal collections or contractual dispute proceedings arising directly out of this agreement.

11. ICASA CODE OF CONDUCT & COMPLAINTS HANDLING

11.1. Service Commitment: Techconet CC strictly adheres to the ICASA Code of Conduct for Electronic Communications Licensees, ensuring transparent pricing, non-discriminatory network distribution, and ethical customer interaction.

11.2. Internal Complaints Resolution Procedure: Should the Customer experience technical grievances, billing discrepancies, or operational dissatisfaction, they are contractually required to first log a formal complaint in writing to: admin@techconet.co.za. Techconet commits to systematically investigate and work to resolve all formal written complaints within fourteen (14) working days from the date of submission.

11.3. External Escalation Rights: If a critical issue cannot be resolved through Techconet’s internal resolution framework within fourteen (14) working days, the Customer maintains the statutory right to escalate the dispute directly to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) via their official consumer complaints portal at consumer@icasa.org.za.