This article is from page 13 of the 2006-09-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
A GROUP of volunteers has created a free highspeed WiFi Internet network spanning Clare, Galway and Limerick.
This network, which has been created by the not-for-profit organisation IrishWAN, claims to allow people to use the Internet for free, except for the initial cost of setting up the system.
The company has created the system in response to what it describes as “the inability of local government and commercial wireless Internet operators to provide what is seen as basic infrastructure in the rest of Europe”.
The system works by using readily available and affordable license exempt equipment, such as recycled PCs, to create a series of wireless nodes that people can connect to.
Depending on the type of antenna being used by an individual, a connection can be made up to 10 miles away from the nearest node.
According to IrishWAN, the typical cost of setting up the system is between €200 to €300, and the user would own the equipment following this.
Once you are set up, the system has no running costs because the software used to make the connections is based on the Linux Open Source operating system.
The more people who connect to a network of this kind, the stronger and more reliable it becomes. The areas where people can access the network also increase as new members, especially those located a higher altitudes, join the system.
For more information on this new system check out www.irishwan.ie.