{{ site.title }}

Super Wi-Fi Pilot Issues Call for Participants

image © Jeremy Brooks

Gigabit Libraries Network (GLN) has announced a call for US public libraries to join a national Super Wi-Fi Pilot project. Super Wi-Fi, also known as TV white space, has advantages over traditional Wi-Fi both in its range and in its ability to pass through walls, trees, and other obstructions, although Super Wi-Fi is currently capable of less data throughput than Wi-Fi. Like Wi-Fi, Super Wi-Fi is unlicensed radio spectrum, open and available to anyone with certified equipment to use with no fees or permissions attached.

In an effort to make no-fee library Wi-Fi more accessible to more patrons, GLN is inviting innovative, tech-savvy public libraries to participate in this Super Wi-Fi Pilot to explore the utility and usability of this new technology. The deadline for submitting an initial statement of interest is August 12, 2013.

As part of a similar initiative called AIR.U, on July 9 West Virginia University became the first US university to use Super Wi-FI to provide wireless Internet access on campus and in the surrounding community. AIR.U, the Advanced Internet Regions consortium, is a group of colleges and universities, public interest groups, and IT companies working to launch Super Wi-FI networks on campuses and nearby areas.

Affiliates