News
Mobile Broadband 3G - A New Direction
25 MARCH 2010: JANET(UK) has completed a review of its strategy around 'mobile broadband', which we interpret principally as wireless connectivity when off campus. At the core of the review were interview and focus group activities conducted towards the end of 2009 to gather details of user needs and current provision – our thanks if you contributed to these surveys. A detailed overview of our findings will be published soon.
In terms of our future strategy, it is now clear that the demand for mobile broadband is tightly focused on the basic services of web and email while travelling rather than access to value-added networking environments, and that within our community it is the student population that is driving innovative use, particularly in the social sphere. There was also a strong thread of dissatisfaction with current 3G-based mobile broadband solutions, which you report very seldom live up to their promised performance. As a result, we propose to concentrate much of our effort on extending the availability of Wi-Fi connectivity, via eduroam, partnerships with wireless ISPs, and – a new direction – investigating the possibility of getting connectivity onto public transport vehicles. We are currently engaged in the necessary preparatory work required to take forward the options identified, such as a legal review of the ramifications of partnering with commercial ISPs to deliver off-campus coverage.
If you have particular views on mobile broadband or an example of innovative use in the community to relate, we'd like to hear from you. Please contact mark.o'leary@ja.net.
