Labrador campuses unveil wireless internet service
12/2/2009 10:41:39 AM
College of the North Atlantic’s Labrador West and Happy Valley - Goose Bay campuses are the latest locations to receive wireless internet access as part of the college’s Student Wireless Project.
The project, headed by the college’s information technology department, will have numerous wireless hotspots located throughout the campus, each one available to students and members of the public.
"We're cutting the cord,” says Richard Sawyer, campus administrator at Labrador West. “From now on, students and visitors to the campus can access the internet in the cafeteria, the library and other areas downstairs where people congregate. Eventually, in a year or so, the whole campus will become a hotspot and support connections, not only to personal laptops, but to other wireless devices such as a PDA or an iPod Touch."
Throughout the year, community groups and not-for-profit organizations utilize the campus facilities. These groups will also be able to avail of the wireless service.
“Outside groups and individuals wishing to use our boardroom will now have access to this wireless service as well,” says Paul Motty, campus administrator in Happy Valley - Goose Bay.
“When having meetings or doing presentations they will be able to download and receive information without having to access the college’s IT system.”
The Student Wireless Project has three phases. The first will see wireless network access to the public internet being made available in campus libraries, cafeterias, lounges and common gathering areas at all CNA campuses by early in 2010.
Phase two of the plan will see a security environment and governance strategy deployed to allow students and approved college partners access to internal services found on the college’s provincial wide area network. This phase of the project will start up in the fall of 2010.
The final phase will see the college deliver virtualised applications that will allow the student to work on their course of studies at home, in class or various outdoor locations. The college may also explore the ability to deliver the college SharePoint portal to a student’s iPhone or Blackberry, and supply voice over internet protocol (i.e. SKYPE) type services for distance learning or learner-to-learner communications.
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Media contact:
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938