Wi-Fi goes to the Australian bush

06.06.2005
Von Computerworld Australia

One of the largest rural wireless networks in Australia will be officially launched Tuesday at The University of Queensland"s Gatton campus.

The UQconnect wireless network will allow teachers and students to move beyond the traditional classroom with 24x7 Internet access.

UQ information technology services (ITS) director Nick Tate wants to ensure access is available anywhere on campus so students can video-link back to lectures.

Tate said the university, in South East Queensland 100 kilometers from Brisbane, has invested more than A$50,000 (US$37,800) in the development of the network, with 20 access points going live tomorrow.

"This link between the outside environment and the lab will speed up data collection and dissemination, meaning research output will improve significantly," he said.

The UQconnect network is one of 25 university campuses around Australia to benefit from Intel"s Mobile Initiative for Learning in Education, with the donation of five base stations.

This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of mobile computing and wireless technologies in Australian universities so students and staff can learn, teach and research anytime, anywhere by 2006.