Polytech-WIC internet deal has wider benefit

Thousands of Otago Polytechnic students in North Dunedin will find this week they have access to high-speed, uncapped internet, thanks to a deal between the polytechnic and wireless internet provider WIC.

While the deal is at $49.95 a month, plus installation fee, there is a surprising bonus for people turning on their notebooks in the coverage area - free wireless internet is available around North Dunedin.

A map of the coverage area on the polytechnic website covers thousands of flats around the polytechnic and University of Otago campuses.

Polytechnic chief information officer Michael Collins said the tertiary institution had been keen for some time to push out its services to the wider community and had been looking for a business partner to help with that plan.

The polytechnic was keen to extend online learning access to students and make its services more accessible to the wider Dunedin community.

Coincidentally, WIC managing director Stewart Fleming was pursuing a business plan of his own, which was almost in line with what the polytech was suggesting.

In January, he was busy installing wireless hot spots in the north end of Dunedin as part of a business expansion.

A five-minute conversation between Messrs Collins and Fleming saw a deal concluded, whereby the polytechnic would use the WIC network to extend its own services.

"It's another step towards enabling the working remotely policy that we implemented last year for staff and students.

"We are working towards providing a new learning experience and environment for students and staff unbound by time and place," Mr Collins said.

Mr Fleming has been providing wireless internet connections in Dunedin for about three years but expansion had been slow due mainly to equipment costs.

The price of equipment had dropped so sharply that installing a network in the city was not difficult or expensive, he said.

Dunedin had ideal topography for wireless networks because spectrum could be used on different sides of hills.

He was planning to move next month into South Dunedin and then out to Mosgiel with his networks, again in line with the polytechnic, which has 500 students and several staff living at Mosgiel, as well as many other students in South Dunedin.

Mr Collins said he did not want to limit access to the service and some thought had gone into how some of the wireless services could be made free for the community.

Mr Fleming said proper free access would be ideal, given the community-focused service he was trying to provide.

No fees were payable but each user had to register with their details and the service was capped.

It was not anonymous and any illegal downloading would mean the user being blocked from peer-to-peer services.

Advertising would be shown on the free site.

"If you can't get the subscriber to pay for it, you get someone interested in the subscriber to pay.

"It will be free with the help of those willing to put their material in front of the students.

"There will be enough advertising to cover costs," he said.

It would be an "interesting experiment" for WIC and Mr Fleming hoped to see some innovative uses of the uncapped internet service.

He knew of several web designers who were waiting for the service to be started so they could further develop their ideas.

Mr Collins said there was always an expectation from students there would be a wireless network at the polytechnic.

That had widened to expecting a wireless network across the city.

The collaboration between the polytechnic and WIC went some way towards meeting that expectation.

- dene.mackenzie@odt.co.nz

ON THE NET
http://www.op.ac.nz/wop/