Local Firm Supplies Equipment to US Marines

- Thu 9th Sep 2004

Marines tired of waiting to use their Afghan camp's Internet facilities have put together their own connection.

The Marines and Navy medical staff of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, based in Camp Salerno, Afghanistan, built a private, wireless, satellite-based network to support personal e-mail service and Internet-based phone calls to family and friends back home.


Navy Lt. Philip Geiger, the battalion's medical officer, spearheaded the Internet project. He said he and his colleagues decided to build their own Internet connection because of the long lines to use the morale and welfare Internet that Army officials have installed at Camp Salerno, located 90 miles south of Kabul near the border with Pakistan.

Although Army officials went to great lengths to install an Internet for troops stationed at Camp Salerno, the setup "has many, many users and not enough bandwidth," which frustrated members of the Marine unit, Geiger said.

Out of this frustration grew the battalion's own private Internet link, dubbed "Semper Wi-FI." It was developed with the help of funds raised by a U.S. Web site operator and equipment donations from individuals and vendors. The network started running Sept. 4.

Geiger, who volunteered for his tour with the Marine infantry unit, said the battalion's setup works through a satellite operated by New Skies Satellites N.V., based in the Hague, Netherlands. The Bentley Telecom division of Bentley Walker Ltd. based in Hayling Island, England, serves as the ISP for the Semper Wi-Fi network.


















http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0906/web-afghan-09-08-04.asp

By forum user, Bruce_Bennett