Johannesburg, 27 Oct 2004
Technology company Intel says its wireless safari is proving wireless technology can be effectively and securely used regardless of a user`s geographical location.
Intel`s 12-day test began last Saturday when it sent a group of professionals to travel across the southern Africa region and maintain connectivity to their back-office systems using wireless computing with its Centrino technology at the heart of the venture.
The nine-man team will travel through the wildest parts of SA, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia while maintaining Internet connectivity via satellite. Participants include two members from the Auditor General`s office and one of Intel`s major clients, which utilises IT to process sensitive data.
The team is equipped with some of the latest IT and communications technology: four HP Centrino mobile technology notebook computers with integrated WiFi capabilities. A trailer-mounted satellite system will be used to link the computers to Transtel`s base station in Krugersdorp and from there through Internet Solutions` backbone to the Auditor General`s head office in Pretoria. Transtel is supplying satellite connectivity.
The company`s market development manager, Jubert De Lange, says the main objective of the venture is to create a case study for Intel.
"The ability to work both wirelessly and securely will highlight the advantages that WiFi offers users in SA.
"Another important objective of the journey is to expose the youth of each region we visit to the technology that we will be using and provide demonstrations of how we can use technology to enhance their lives."
De Lange says the potential for wireless networking in Africa is immense and everything from industry, conservation and tourism, to education, healthcare and social services can benefit.
Intel is confident WiFi adoption will soon grow considerably.
A weekly diary of the safari will be available exclusively on ITWeb Lite for the next two weeks.
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