Sydney, AUSTRALIA – 1 February 2010 – AARNet, Australia’s Academic and Research Network
has joined forces with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Open
Systems Consultants to install local wireless networks in Papua New Guinea to
connect with the Internet via satellite to the rest of the world.
The wireless
network will connect to the eduroam federation
and it will allow researchers and academics visiting Papua New Guinea’s Divine
Word University (DWU) at Madang to connect automatically and securely to a satellite
network at speeds of up to five Megabit per second for download and one Megabit
per second for upload. Authentication traffic will be directed by the Papua New Guinea Academic
and Research Network (PNGARNet) to the AARNet backbone.
Chris Hancock,
CEO of AARNet said, “The collaboration and contributions in kind from AARNet,
Queensland University of Technology and Open Systems Consultants will advance
research and education opportunities between Papua New Guinea and the rest of
the world. Today, we have
delivered an essential link to provide visiting researchers and academics with
a secure wireless internet network to transmit information and communicate with
their counterparts when visit Papua New Guinea.”
“AARNet’s
collaboration with PNGARNet highlights the strategic importance of bringing
NRENs together to improve the performance of innovation to sustain a better
world. We are committed to working
with our neighbours in the Pacific region to advance collaboration and
education in this region.”
Father Jan
Czuba, Chairman of PNGARNet said, “PNGARNet is excited to be connected to the
eduroam federation through the generous contribution of AARNet, Queensland
University of Technology and Open Systems Consultants. International researchers and academics
visiting Papua New Guinea will now be able to gain network services
automatically via eduroam to connect with their counterparts overseas to foster
more collaboration and communication opportunities.”
The venture was
possible thanks to experts from QUT, AARNet and Open Systems Consultants who
created the wireless solution in Brisbane. This was shipped to Papua New Guinea to be installed and
commissioned. QUT’s staff members,
Antony Somerville and Norman Tee, are currently in Papua New Guinea to install
the technology and will provide training to DWU’s IT personnel on how they can
maintain the service.
Following the
connection of DWU’s Madang campus to the eduroam federation, AARNet, QUT and
Open Systems Consultants will be looking to connect the University of Papua New
Guinea later in 2010.
PNGARNet
provides email, internet, e-learning, data storage, video conferencing and
online research support to universities and research institutes. The geographical spread and remoteness
of institutions on its network requires its internet connections to be made by
satellite.
For further information, please contact:
Gabriel Wong, Max Australia
+61 2 9954 3492
gabriel.wong@maxaustralia.com.au
About AARNet
AARNet Pty Ltd (APL) is
the company that operates Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNet).
It is a not-for-profit company limited by shares. The shareholders are 37
Australian universities and the CSIRO. AARNet provides high-capacity leading
edge Internet services for the tertiary education and research sector
communities and their research partners. AARNet serves more than one million end
users who access the network through local area networks at member
institutions. For further information, please visit: www.aarnet.edu.au.
About PNGARNet
PNGARNet is wholly owned by the
Vice-Chancellors Committee, the Vice-Chancellors of all Papua New Guinean
universities and was created with the aim of providing high quality, cost
efficient internet access to institutions of higher education in Papua
New Guinea.
PNGARNET was formed in 2005 by
the Commission of Higher Education and its stakeholders, six universities and two
research institutions across Papua New Guinea. The universities are University of Goroka, University of Papua New Guinea,
University of Technology, Vudal University, Divine Word University and Pacific
Adventist University and the two research institutes are National Research
Institute and National Agricultural Research Institute.