Wireless Island Ltd., an information technology business now established in Prince Edward Island, will be officially opening its doors in the West Royalty Industrial Park tomorrow. Using Prince Edward Island as a working testbed, the company will carry out the research and development of a system designed to provide low cost wireless broadband networking solutions.
"While we are initially deploying the technology in Prince Edward Island through this pilot project, we are actually designing our wireless solution for export to developing regions where the existing investments in copper wire or fibre optics are very low," said Wireless Island president, Christopher Ogg. "Essentially, for many regions of the world, this will mean significant savings in communications infrastructure costs, as it will enable them to skip a generation of technology by going directly to a wireless broadband solution."
Wireless Island plans to hire up to 10 staff to carry out the technical requirements of the project. The company hopes to have the service between Montague and Summerside ready for testing by early next year.
"This is exactly the type of knowledge-based industry we want to be nurturing on Prince Edward Island," said Don MacKinnon, Minister of Development. "Through Prince Edward Island Business Development, we are partnering with the Island's growing technology sector to explore opportunities that will increase exports and add value to the Island's economy."
To assist Wireless Island in testing the network, and in exchange for free access to the service, the company plans to invite small information technology firms to act as beta testers of the wireless solution. It is expected, when the testing is complete, that the majority of Wireless Island's sales will be overseas.
"Prince Edward Island has a long history of exporting appropriate technology solutions to the developing world," said Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque. "I am pleased to see Wireless Island building on this tradition and extending it to the realm of communications technology."
The National Research Council (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), a nationwide network or more than 260 Industrial Technical Advisors, played a significant role in this project. Through the Research, Development and Adaptation program, the NRC will be providing ongoing technical advice and a research contribution of $186,380 to the company for technical salaries.
"IRAP understands the risks and rewards of technological innovation," said Dave Fletcher, NRC Industrial Technology Advisor. "For more than 50 years, IRAP has been helping small and medium sized businesses, like Wireless Island, turn good ideas into commercially viable products and services."
Wireless Island also received $50,000 financial assistance from the provincial government through Prince Edward Island Business Development (PEIBD), formerly known as Enterprise PEI, the lead business development corporation for the province. PEIBD assists knowledge-based companies in developing and advancing sound business development initiatives.