Wi-Fi installed at tourist lake in Kashmir

Just two months ago, portable phones were restricted in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in a government effort to control separatists. Now, to attract tourists once again and to restore the economy, the state of Jammu & Kashmir is working with an Indian networking company that has turned the scenic Dal Lake into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

More than a million tourists, about half from outside India, visited Dal Lake in 1989, the year before hostilities between Muslims and the national Indian government. Dal Lake is famous for its houseboats for tourists, and for the views of the snow-capped Himalayas.

The Wi-Fi project was conceived by Dax Networks, and the project is being implemented in partnership with Jammu & Kashmir Department of Tourism and iPeaks, a leading ISP of the state. Dax looked at the project as a "proof-of-concept" and also commensurate as part of the company as its obligation as a community responsible corporation.

"Though many parts of the country are enjoying benefits of the latest networking technologies, numerous pockets in the country are still completely untouched by this phenomenon," said Sujit Singh, Country Manager for Dax. "Kashmir is definitely one of them. Therefore what better place to take the first step than making the pride of Kashmir (The Dal) Wi-Fi enabled. This is not just a bold statement, but also a move that can have cascading effect in the state and a positive rub off on the overall image of the country.”

Singh said it is the first such instance in the world where a lake has been converted into a hot spot.

With the completion of the project, people and tourists alike can access Internet while staying in House boats as well as while moving on the very popular Shikara Boats.

"The only thing they will require is a laptop computer which is Wi-Fi compatible," Singh said. "No matter from where you come, this facility will allow you to remain connected, while you enjoy serenity and physical isolation. Close on the heels of mobile service launch, this development will ensure that Kashmiris at large are not denied of what the rest of the country has access to."

Though the project is not aiming for substantial commercial gains, it is expected to make a strong statement among tourists groups across the world. Dax Networks intends to replicate this model in other parts of the country. In this regard, it is open to work with Department of Tourism of respective states. In fact, it has already identified three more lakes for similar projects. Over a period of time, Dax foresees this unique segment developing into a lucrative niche.

Part of Apcom Group, Dax Networks is one of the top three networking companies in India. Dax Networks currently offers networking solutions to the Government, Telecom, ISPs, Financial Services, Education, Defence, and Corporate Segments, among others.

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On its web site, Dax Networks offers a very good short course on wireless technologies and applications. The following is an excerpt:

Wireless LAN technology is gaining broad acceptance and being adopted worldwide in organizations that clamor for the competitive advantage of an increasingly mobile and highly productive workforce.

Before going wireless, organizations understandably have many questions. For instance, what are the current options for wireless LAN technology? What is the state of effort to standardize these technologies? Will the newest wireless devices be backward compatible and ensure protection for future wireless investments?

This technology guide addresses those issues, answering the pressing questions that will help you make a more informed decision about wireless technology for your organization. The guide introduces WAP 2000 Series Access Point, which sets the enterprise standard for secure, manageable, and reliable wireless LANs while also providing a smooth migration path to future high-speed wireless LAN technologies.

This innovative, state-of-the art wireless infrastructure platform features dual-band functionality that simultaneously supports current and emerging wireless standards. One of the most innovative aspects of the WAP 2000 Series Access Point is that it is both software and hardware upgradable. Organizations can not only upgrade their software to take advantage of new features that DAX will develop in the future, but they also will be able to upgrade the radios in the field to take advantage of new high-speed wireless standards. With the WAP 2000 Access Point, your organization can confidently implement wireless today-without worrying about incompatibility with future wireless technologies, protocols, and standards.

Wireless technology for computer users is nothing new. The first connections were established two decades ago. Adoption, though, has proceeded very slowly, mostly limited to a few specialized vertical markets, such as warehousing, education, and retail.

Implementation has been slow for three reasons. First, the original wireless data rates were too slow to serve mainstream users on a shared LAN. Although throughput did gradually increase, network speeds still drastically lagged those of wired LANs. Second, proprietary, nonstandard solutions dominated the marketplace, providing little interoperability among devices, or the peace of mind for users that come from having multiple vendor options. Third, these low-speed proprietary solutions were very expensive compared to wired solutions.

In recent years, the situation has changed dramatically. In 1999, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ratified the 802.11b standard, offering data rates up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps)-similar to the 10 Mbps connections that are common for many Ethernet-based workgroups. For the first time, wireless LANs became truly usable for most work environments and office applications. Multiple vendors quickly came to support the 802.11b standard-this rapidly drove down costs, leading to increased demand and even greater vendor support.

In addition, the 802.11b standard assured users of device interoperability. The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), a nonprofit international association, was formed to certify interoperability of wireless LAN products based on the IEEE 802.11b specification and to promote the use of the standard across all market segments. With the rapid adoption of the 802.11b standard, users began to have a choice of a wide variety of interoperable, low-cost, high-performance wireless equipment.

Perhaps most importantly, many types of organizations today see tremendous value by adding wireless onto the corporate LAN. For years, laptop and notebook computers have promised anytime, anywhere computing. But, with access to the LAN and the Internet becoming such an integral part of business, a wireless connection is needed to make true the promise of anytime, anywhere computing. Wireless devices enable users to be constantly connected from virtually anywhere: a desk, a conference room, the coffee shop, or another building on a corporate or academic campus. This ability provides users with maximum flexibility, productivity, and efficiency, while dramatically boosting collaboration and cooperation with colleagues, business partners, and customers. In addition, wireless can bring LAN access to locations where laying cable is difficult or expensive.

As with any technology, wireless is continually evolving-offering advancements in speed, bandwidth, security, and more. The growth of wireless has recently led to a critical juncture in the advancement of the technology.