[Chapter-delegates] PICISOC Deploys Wireless Broadband for Samoan Schools as part of PacINET 2006

[Rajnesh D. Singh]

PRESS RELEASE 

Suva, FIJI -- August 11, 2006 -- As part of the PacINET 2006 Conference
in Apia, 
Samoa, the Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC)
will be 
running a Wireless Broadband for Schools Project. 

The broad objective of the project is to provide a pod of computers and
broadband 
Wi-Fi Internet access to two remote schools in the northwest corner of
the island 
of Upolu, Samoa. The project will train Teachers/Students in the schools
on how to 
use the computers and provide ongoing technical support. 

The feasibility of Wi-Fi over water will also be trialled by connecting
the island 
of Manono to the Internet. 

The project will be supported by a consortium of Donors, Businesses and
voluntary 
Organisations from the region. The various partners in the Project will
provide 
initial funding and voluntary labour, and ongoing operational costs will
be 
subsidised by commercial users using part of the service. 

PICISOC Members attending the PacINET conference are invited to
participate in the 
Project and gain first hand experience at installing broadband Wi-Fi
networks as 
well as doing their bit for the local community. 

This Project is possible through the kind contribution of the following
consortium 
partners: 

PICISOC http://www.picisoc.org/ Project Host 
2020 Trust http://www.2020.org.nz/ Project Organisation 
GKP http://www.globalknowledge.org/ Project Funding 
CSL http://www.csl.ws/ Project Technical Support and Logistics 
Rural Link http://www.rurallink.co.nz/ Wi-Fi Equipment and Expertise 
PATARA http://www.patarapacific.com/ Network Equipment 
Samoa IT Society http://www.sits.ws/ Training and Support 

The project is being co-ordinated by Ian Thomson, a current Trustee and
past Chair 
of the 2020 Communications Trust and PICISOC Member. 

"PICISOC, with the kind contribution of its project partners, has been
able to 
continue the tradition of providing something of benefit to the local
community 
as part of the PacINET conference. This leaves behind what we call the
"PacINET 
legacy" for the host country, and we hope this years initiative in
providing 
a means to access the Internet for a couple of remote schools in Samoa
will perhaps 
go some way to bridging the digital divide for not only the school
students but 
the local community as well" said Rajnesh D. Singh, PICISOC Chairman. 


For futher information contact the PICISOC Secretariat: info at picisoc.org
and for 
PacINET 2006 information please visit http://www.picisoc.org/ 


About PICISOC 
PICISOC (www.picisoc.org) is the Pacific Islands Chapter of The Internet
Society (ISOC). 
It covers 22 Pacific Islands Countries with a membership of more than
350 individuals in 
the region. The Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society serves
the Society's 
purposes by serving the interests of the global Internet community
through its presence 
in the Pacific Islands. PICISOC focuses on ICT, and internet issues and
development in the 
Pacific region, and acts as an impartial advisor to governments,
organisations and the 
public on matters of significant interest to Pacific Island people. 

About PacINET 
PacINET which is an annual regional conference for practitioners,
developers, researchers 
and those interested in ICT from all sectors to exchange information on
the system design, 
enabling technologies, and anecdotal experiences related to the use of
ICT in the Pacific 
Islands. Since its humble beginnings in 2002, PacINET has evolved to
become the region's 
premier ICT event attracting participants from within the Pacific region
as well as from 
far afield as Asia, Europe and the USA. 


-- 

Kind regards, 

Rajnesh D. Singh 

Chairman - Pacific Islands Chapter, Internet Society 
Director Engineering & Business Development - PATARA 

rajnesh at pacificit.org 

Read my ramblings at http://singh-a-blog.blogspot.com/