Azure Wireless is backed by AU$50 million in venture capital from Hudson Conway, and has rolled out a broadband wireless network to 50 venues across Melbourne, due to go live on October 1. It plans to have access available in Sydney by the end of the year, and Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth by mid-2003.
"We want to be the major infrastructure provider in the country," David Taylor, director for business development sales and marketing for Azure told ZDNet Australia. "Obviously Telstra and Optus are out there doing something, but our aim is to be the major infrastructure provider."
"Our job is to build a wireless network. The use of that service is going to be wholesaled out to people who already own the customers," said Taylor. The first reseller to sign up is iPrimus, the fourth largest fixed line telecommunications company in Australia, with over 400,000 Internet users.
Taylor assures that the Azure wireless network is secure, claiming it is one of the main reasons the company chose Enterasys hardware. The system prevents peer-to-peer activity at a hot spot. "If we are at the same hot spot, even if I know your IP address I can't even ping you," said Taylor.
The system, which currently runs 802.11b technology, has two card slots so when 802.11a technology comes out it can be easily upgraded.
