Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia's First WiFi Enabled University; Wireless Internet at the Nizhni Novgorod State University.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NIZHNI NOVGOROD, Russia & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2004

Nizhni Novgorod, the state university, has announced that it is using Cisco Aironet wireless local area network (WLAN) technology to create the first university WiFi zone in Russia. Based on the IEEE 802.11b protocol the WLAN is intended to broaden the capabilities of the existing local area network and to provide access to the resources of the World Wide Web and e-learning resources to the students and faculty of this educational institution.

Nizhni Novgorod State University (NNSU) is one of the most advanced Russian universities, adept at using modern information technologies to further the process of education. The university network that provides the students and professors with Internet access was launched in 1996. The Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics, together with several of the university's laboratories and research centers, are driving on-going research and development into the introduction of computer technologies in the educational and training process at NNSU and at several research and educational institutions throughout the region.

The introduction of the WLAN will let NNSU carry on the tradition of using the most advanced technologies in the education process. At present Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Access Points have been installed in seven buildings on the university campus, providing Wi-Fi coverage for most of the conference halls, research and educational facilities and administrative facilities. The wireless solution is also helping enable the introduction of e-learning into the traditional education processes and helping to solve the problem of capacity as every access point can support several dozen active users at speeds of up to 11 mbps.

Robert Agee, General Manager of Cisco Systems in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), said, "Nizhni Novgorod University is clearly demonstrating their innovative approach with the introduction of new technologies for the benefit of science and education in this deployment. Introduction of Wi-Fi technology in the education process will render NNSU a more competitive institution for future students, and students and teachers of today will get the opportunity to use modern tools that will help facilitate their scientific potential."

The project was developed by NNSU specialists together with Cisco and Intel, leaders in the field of wireless technology. Intel Centrino has seen Wi-Fi silicon technology being embedded in 70% of mobile PCs used in the corporate segment at present. Cisco is a leading vendor of wireless technologies and solutions in the region, delivering productivity through wireless communications with security, as well as quality of service to its customers. Cisco was behind the first public hot spots in Russia, including the Marriott Hotels and Domodedovo Airport.

"The collaboration between Intel and Cisco has proved to be fruitful worldwide while advancing the progress of wireless technologies and deployment of Wi-Fi infrastructure," said Andrey Greben, NIS Intel General Director. "The introduction of WLAN at NNSU of Lobachevski is another example of successful cooperation between two market leaders in the wireless space."

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