The University of Wollongong has gone wireless today with the implementation of Nortel Network's local area network (LAN), giving students with laptops access to the Internet from anywhere on campus -- even the food hall.
Developed as a research project by Nortel Networks, "it's a simulation of what would be a higher-bandwidth interface available to the public in a few years time," Nortel's Managing Director of Australian R&D, JB Clarke said.
"We're testing it privately through the University first," Clarke said.
The AU$500,000 network will allow students to browse the Internet, send and receive emails, and print documents remotely from LAN access points installed in public areas around campus, such as the library and the food hall, taking the strain off computer labs.
According to Clarke, almost half of the Wollongong University population have laptop computers and will benefit from the service by having access to the University Internet.
To access the network, a student will need an interface card compatible with the network, which Nortel will make available for sale through the campus. In the first instance, Nortel has donated 200 interface cards to the university for distribution amongst the students.
Once the service is up and running, cards will become available to buy from the computer store on campus, Clarke told ZDNet Australia, however a price that is affordable to students has not been released.
A user will need to set up an account at the university Intranet and download software available from the computer store to access various services available. Depending on what type of account is set up, they will be able to browse the University Internet and Nortel services.
"It's an opportunity for us to see how people are using it, so as to improve it for the public network," Clarke said.
