10 August 2000

Cabinet minister to launch CampusNet

The Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, will launch the University of Wollongong's CampusNet service on Thursday 10 August. In an Australian first, CampusNet will provide wireless Internet access from laptop computers or other mobile devices.

CampusNet is a combined initiative of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Research Institute (TITR) at the University of Wollongong and Nortel Networks to build a state-of-the-art wireless network covering public areas of the University's main campus.

Its development has major implications for the wider community as it represents a real opportunity for similar infrastructure to be deployed in regional Australia. For example, in remote areas where it is difficult and costly to feed optical fibres to homes, wireless network technologies will provide residents with the most efficient and economical means of accessing the Internet and participating in the emerging online economy.

To access CampusNet at UOW, a user will simply need to be within range of one of the wireless access points deployed throughout the University's main Wollongong campus. The University's library, lecture theatres, food halls and parkland areas will be covered by the CampusNet service.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, Professor Gerard Sutton said CampusNet would assist in the University's research and development of wireless networks and 'smart' Internet technology.

"It will increase the exposure of students to cutting-edge information technology and will enable flexible course content delivery mechanisms to be employed within the traditional 'lecture' framework," Professor Sutton said.

He said CampusNet was a significant example of the collaborative efforts between UOW and its industry partners.

"Wireless Internet is rapidly becoming a 'must-have' productivity and information resource for today's mobile professional, and we see CampusNet bringing the same 'any time, anywhere' wireless Internet access and workstation freedom to students and researchers," said J.B. Clarke, director of the Nortel Networks Technology Centre in Wollongong. "As Nortel Networks builds the new, high-performance Internet for service provider and enterprise customers worldwide, we believe our schools and universities must also benefit from the same security, reliability, flexibility and cost-efficiencies these advanced technologies are delivering to wireless operators and the greater business community."

Nortel Networks is a global Internet and communications leader with capabilities spanning Optical, Wireless, Local Internet and eBusiness. The Company had 1999 U.S. GAAP revenues of US$21.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics and quality of networking and the Internet, promising a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit nortelnetworks.com