Subject: [NEXTEL-1] Polynesian Nation Provides Free Wireless Internet to Population

From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 17:43:25 -0400

Polynesian Nation Provides Free Wireless Internet to Population

Niue, a Polynesian island, now provides free wireless Internet access using
802.11b technology to its entire population. The Niue Internet Users Society
funded the country-wide wireless LAN from registrations under the.nu Internet
domain name belonging to Niue
============================================================================
Pacific Island Becomes Wireless
Paradise

(24/06/2003, BWCS staff) The
Polynesian island of Niue has become
world's first nation to offer
countrywide free wireless internet
access. The local chapter of the
Internet Users Society has funded a
nationwide wireless LAN deployment
that provides free WiFi internet
access to all residents, businesses,
government bodies and visitors to
the island. The new network is
funded by registrations of the .NU
internet domain name that belongs
to Niue.

Residents of Niue have been able to
access the internet free of charge
using a fixed line dial-up service
since 1999. However the island's
frequent battering by tropical storms
has made the operation of internet
services over traditional
copper-based wires problematic.
Niue's few hundred internet users are
currently online for approximately
6,000 hours per month.

The new WiFi system, which is
backhauled via lines leased from
Telecom Niue, will reduce the load on
the wired network. Niue's flat
topography has made it a good
location for local wireless networking
and, on an island where electricity is
a limited resource, 802.11b's
relatively lower power usage has also
made it a good fit. 

The Internet Users Society is developing a solar-powered wireless access point
that will remove the need for power cables in remote locations.

As well as the 2,000 inhabitants of Niue the Internet Users Society expects the
national W-LAN network to appeal to the large number of yachts that visit the
island. Boats equipped with WiFi-enabled laptops will be able to drop anchor and
access the internet at various points along Niue's coastline. Other Pacific
islands are now expected to follow Niue's lead in deploying 802.11 networks.

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