TVBLOB announces successful execution of first WiMAX, broadband remote learning experiment in the italian alps

(06 giu 2006) - TVBLOB, a software development company based in Milan, Italy, announced the successful execution of the first WiMax, broadband remote learning experiment in the Val D’Ossola region of the Italian Alps, northwest of Milan. The solution which combines Siemens wireless antennaes with a TVBLOB set-top box and backend technology platform, enables the small mountain village of Trasquera (300 inhibitants) to connect with Domodossola, where the fibre optic infrastructure was installed thanks to Retelit service carrier.
“Now children in remote mountain villages will be able to continue their lessons in real-time via televisions, even when snow or other dangerous driving conditions prevent teachers from driving up into mountains,” said Fabrizio Caffarelli, CEO of TVBLOB. “This experiment was also signficant because it has profound implications for regional medical assistance and economic development in distant locations: now doctors will be able to perform remote consultations and businesses of all types will be able to conduct and promote their services more efficiently with broadband connections as if they were in bigger cities.”
The experiment connected a small village school in Trasquera to a middle school in Domodossola, one hour away by car. Normally, students must descend for classes and/or some teachers must drive up to the school to conduct classes on special subjects, but inclimate weather in the winter often makes the drive dangeous or even impossible. The solution provides a cost-effective alternative to satellite communications for educational institutions and other businesses, while at the same time offers real-time, bi-directional TV-broadcast quality and enables students and business to continue to thrive in remote locations.