Partnership Targets ‘Wireless Umbrella’
(Image courtesy of Purdue University)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA partnership including Purdue University and the cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette aims to put a "wireless umbrella" over the entire community. The collaboration, which also includes local school corporations, will upgrade wireless access and data centers in the cities.
The project, called Greater Lafayette Outdoor Wireless, or GLOW, involves extending Purdue’s wireless network further into the community and boosting service to the cities, residents, schools and students. The school says the effort will promote economic development.
Purdue Vice President For Information Technology Gerry McCartney says, while the cities and schools will benefit from the collaboration, the biggest wins may come in the future.
"Our goal is to build with our partners the cities an infrastructure that enables us to leverage this technology for all the benefits it offers," says McCartney, "and that will enable us to participate seriously in the rapidly approaching Internet of Things economy."
Tippecanoe County and the Purdue Research Foundation will work together to examine potential future digital collaborations.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski says the partnership will enhance efforts to operate the city more efficiently. West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis says it will be a talent attraction tool, saying the collaboration will "make our community an even more attractive place for people to live, work and generally create opportunities for economic growth."