Students and staff at University of Otago now have access to a collaborative and convenient wireless network service when they travel to other educational sites around the world.

The University has joined eduroam (education roaming), a free, secure wireless service that is available in New Zealand through Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand (REANNZ).

The service is available at participating university campuses and institutions in New Zealand and in more than 60 countries around the world. Students and staff at Otago can access the service when working at other university campuses, while visiting staff and students can take advantage of the same service at Otago.

Part of Otago’s strategic effort to enrich the experiences of the University community and its international stakeholders and expand the institution’s global reach, eduroam is like having a master key to WiFi whenever students and staff visit another university. It simply requires the user’s home university login credentials.

Travelling University of Otago students, faculty, and staff will be able to seamlessly access the internet when visiting campuses around the world. Furthermore, guests from other eduroam institutions will be able to make use of Otago's extensive wireless network to gain access using their own university’s login credentials.

Mike Harte, director, Information Technology Services at the University of Otago says uptake was instant.

“Almost immediately after launching the service to the University community, we had visitors to the campus logging on.  It’s been very well received.”

REANNZ has been granted the only rights to run eduroam in New Zealand. CEO Steve Cotter sees value in the service, beyond just the clear benefit to its current users.

He says it cuts down on the administrative burden for members offering the service. He also sees potential for the network service to benefit the wider community.

“As New Zealand becomes more interconnected, eduroam™ can help schools, libraries, museums, and cultural institutions become key building blocks of a borderless, educated society.”