These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a legally binding contract between NetLinks ("NetLinks," "we," "us," or "our"), the company operating the NetLinks community digital utility infrastructure platform, and you ("you," "Customer," or "User"), the individual or entity accessing our internet connectivity services. By creating an account, purchasing a session, connecting to a NetLinks hotspot, or otherwise using any part of the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance & Eligibility

By using the Service you confirm that: (a) you are at least eighteen (18) years of age, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, and are legally capable of entering into binding contracts; (b) you have provided accurate and complete registration information; and (c) you will use the Service only for lawful purposes. If you are accessing the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

We may amend these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through the Service or by email. Continued use of the Service after the effective date of any change constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Service.

2. Definitions

• "Service" means the internet access, wallet, session-management, and related digital services NetLinks provides through its platform and hotspot network.
• "Hub" means a physical NetLinks deployment site operated by an Operator, at which a hotspot access point and backhaul device deliver connectivity.
• "Operator" means an approved partner who manages one or more Hubs and sells access on NetLinks' behalf.
• "Session" means a time- or data-limited period of internet access purchased by you and activated at a Hub.
• "Access Code" means the unique voucher code issued to you that activates a Session on a Hub.
• "Wallet" means the prepaid balance held in your account, denominated in Central African CFA francs (XAF), used to purchase Sessions.
• "Mobile Money" means a regulated electronic-money service (e.g., MTN MoMo, Orange Money, Wave) used to top up your Wallet.

3. Account Registration

To use the Service you must register an account. You agree to provide true, accurate, and current information and to keep your credentials secure. You are solely responsible for all activity under your account and must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use. You may not transfer your account to another party without our consent.

4. Description of Service

NetLinks provides prepaid internet access at community Hubs. You purchase a Session using your Wallet or directly via Mobile Money, receive an Access Code, and connect to the Hub's access point. Sessions are governed by the package you select — defined by Internet Access Subscription Time (IAST), speed, and any fair-use data allowance — and expire automatically when their subscription time is exhausted. We do not guarantee uninterrupted connectivity; service quality depends on the backhaul technology serving the Hub (satellite, 4G/5G, or hybrid) and local network conditions.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree not to use the Service to:

• violate any applicable law or regulation of Nigeria, Cameroon, the United States, or any other jurisdiction;
• infringe the intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any person;
• transmit unsolicited communications, malware, or any harmful code;
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to the platform, Hubs, or any third-party system;
• resell, redistribute, or share your Session or Access Code commercially without authorization;
• circumvent session limits, billing, or access controls; or
• interfere with the proper functioning of the Service or the Hub's equipment.

Violations may result in immediate suspension, termination, and where applicable, referral to law-enforcement authorities under the Nigerian Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, Cameroon Law No. 2010/012 on Cybersecurity and Cybercriminality, or the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, as relevant.

6. Payments, Wallet & Mobile Money

You may fund your Wallet through Mobile Money or other payment methods we make available. All amounts are denominated in XAF. A top-up creates a Transaction record; the credited amount is available immediately upon confirmation by the payment provider. Wallet balances are non-transferable and may not be withdrawn except as expressly permitted or where required by law.

Mobile Money transactions are subject to the terms, fees, and limits of the relevant provider. We are not responsible for provider downtime, failed deposits, or delays outside our control. Where a top-up fails and funds are debited from your mobile-money account, we will credit your Wallet upon confirmed receipt, or assist you in raising a dispute with the provider.

Micro-fees, where applicable, are disclosed before purchase and deducted transparently. We reserve the right to adjust pricing, fees, and package terms, with notice, in accordance with Section 14.

7. Sessions, Packages & Access Codes

Each Session is defined by the package you purchase. Access Codes are single-use and bound to the Hub at which they are activated. You must connect to the Hub within the activation window stated for your package. Unused time or data is forfeited upon expiry and is not refundable except where a Session cannot be activated due to a confirmed Hub outage (see Section 9).

A grace buffer may, at our discretion, briefly extend an expiring Session to allow renewal without disconnection. This buffer is a courtesy, not a guarantee, and does not create an entitlement to continued access.

8. Hub Roaming

Where enabled, you may continue an active Session when moving between NetLinks Hubs. Roaming may incur an additional fee disclosed before it is applied. Roaming is subject to availability at the destination Hub and may be suspended during maintenance or outages.

9. Refunds & Disputes

If a Session cannot be activated because the assigned Hub is offline or lacks a functioning backhaul, you may request a credit to your Wallet equal to the unused value. Refund requests must be submitted through the in-app support channel within seven (7) days of the failed purchase, with the transaction reference.

Except for confirmed service failures, all purchases are final. Disputed Mobile Money debits should first be raised with the provider; we will cooperate with any provider-led investigation. Where local consumer-protection law mandates a longer or more favorable refund right — including under the NCC Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007 (Nigeria) or applicable US state consumer-protection statutes — that right is preserved and is not limited by these Terms.

10. Privacy & Data Protection

We process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable law, including:

• Nigeria: the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 and NCC Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007;
• Cameroon: Law No. 2010/012 on Cybersecurity and Cybercriminality and the data-protection principles derived therefrom; and
• United States: the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the CPRA, and other applicable state privacy laws.

We collect only the data necessary to provide the Service — account details, payment references, and connection metadata — retain it no longer than necessary, and never sell it. You may request access, correction, or deletion of your data, or object to certain processing, by contacting us through the support channel. We will respond within the period required by the applicable law.

11. Intellectual Property

The Service, its branding, software, and content are owned by NetLinks or its licensors and are protected by intellectual-property laws. You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for its intended purpose during active Sessions. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any part of the Service except as expressly permitted.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, NetLinks, its Operators, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, data, or business, arising from your use of or inability to use the Service. Our aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Service shall not exceed the total amount you paid to us for the Session giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be excluded under the mandatory laws of Nigeria, Cameroon, or the applicable US state.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NetLinks, its Operators, officers, and employees from any claim, demand, loss, or damage (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your breach of these Terms, your violation of applicable law, or your misuse of the Service.

14. Service Modifications

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service, any package, or any feature at any time, including for maintenance, security, or regulatory reasons. We will use reasonable efforts to provide notice of material changes. We are not liable to you for any such modification or suspension except as provided in Section 9 for confirmed outages.

15. Suspension & Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access if you breach these Terms, if your account is flagged for fraudulent or unusual activity pending review, or where required by law. You may close your account at any time through the settings page. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ends; remaining Wallet balances are handled in accordance with Section 6 and applicable law.

16. Dispute Resolution

We are committed to resolving disputes promptly and amicably. Before initiating formal proceedings, you agree to first contact us through the support channel and negotiate in good faith for thirty (30) days. If the dispute remains unresolved:

• Nigeria: disputes shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, seated in Lagos, in the English language;
• Cameroon: disputes shall be referred to arbitration under the OHADA Uniform Act on Arbitration, seated in Douala, in the French or English language; and
• United States: disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered under the American Arbitration Association rules, seated in the state of your residence, in the English language.

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek interim or injunctive relief from a competent court to protect intellectual property or confidential information. Class actions and class arbitrations are waived to the fullest extent permitted by law.

17. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Hub you primarily use is located: the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Cameroon, or the applicable US state. Where no single Hub is identifiable, the laws of the Republic of Cameroon (the primary place of business) shall apply, without giving effect to conflict-of-laws principles.

18. General Provisions

• Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force.
• Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any package terms, constitute the entire agreement between you and NetLinks regarding the Service.
• Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or reorganization.
• Notices. We may notify you by email or in-app message. You may contact us at the support address published in the app.
• No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right is not a waiver of that right.