An innovative WiMax trial, coordinated by HEAnet and implemented by AirSpeed Telecom is currently underway at Dublin City University (DCU).

An innovative WiMax trial, coordinated by HEAnet and implemented by AirSpeed Telecom is currently underway at Dublin City University (DCU). WiMax, which enables long-range wireless Internet access, is being trialed by a group of sixty user participants taken from the community of staff and students in DCU.

HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, is coordinating the trial which is part of their Wireless Broadband Strategy to provide ubiquitous broadband access to the network for all users. The delivery of mobile wireless access is seen as a key and critical component for HEAnet to fulfil its mission in delivering and supporting a world-class service to the Higher Education community.

AirSpeed Telecom, the telecommunications company which operates a nationwide licensed wireless radio transmission network, has installed the required equipment and is providing commissioning support for the trial WiMax network at DCU. The service essentially enables students and staff to seamlessly access the Internet and campus network resources at a high bandwidth speed of 6Mbps without the need for cables - both on and off campus. The user group can access the DCU network with a USB modem provided by HEAnet.

The installation of the WiMax network in DCU allows HEAnet to fully evaluate all aspects of coverage, connectivity and authentication. The aim of the trial is to investigate how a technology like WiMax may be used to deliver wireless broadband capability to users in a campus and near campus environment.

The WiMax trial, which is ongoing, has had very positive feedback from the user group. The demand for WiMax is attributed to the ever increasing demand for mobility both on and off campus by students and staff. This is driven by a number of factors including a steady increase in laptop ownership and the increase in usage of portal access for learning, mail and other services offered by Higher Education Institutes. One key benefit of WiMax in particular is that it can be accessed all over campus and off-campus unlike the existing WiFi service.

WiMax is a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technology. The BreezeMax 4motion solution from Alvarion is being used in the trial. Alvarion is one of the industry leaders in the area of mobile WiMax.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) was very supportive in awarding the trial license for the duration of the trial.

James Healy, Network Manager, DCU, says:

“We would not have been able to successfully deploy the trial equipment without the support of AirSpeed Telecom. While we would have expertise in a wide-range of ICT areas, we would not have had the expertise in Radio Frequency installations and so relied on AirSpeed Telecom to provide this capability. We found them to be highly responsive to our needs and thoroughly professional”.

“There has been extremely positive feedback from our user group of DCU students and staff to the HEAnet WiMax trial. We are now seeing students connecting to the WiMax network rather than using WiFi on campus, particularly outdoors, as the WiMax network has superior connectivity outdoors. In addition, we are very grateful to ComReg for all the support we received and in the awarding of a trial license for the duration of the trial.”

John Boland, CEO, HEAnet, says:

“We are delighted with the outcome to date of the WiMax trial at DCU which is one of a number of HEAnet’s key initiatives ensuring that centres for higher education and research have technically advanced solutions to meet the emerging needs of the educational community. HEAnet is committed to delivering and supporting advanced network infrastructure and associated services based on economies of scale and cost savings.”

Liam O’ Kelly, Managing Director, AirSpeed Telecom, says:

“Education and better broadband services are both vital for Ireland’s economic growth and AirSpeed Telecom is delighted to be working with DCU and HEAnet to make this WiMax trial available.”

For further details, please contact:

Naomi Carroll, HEAnet Communications

Tel: 01 6609040