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Metro Toronto Convention Centre unveils world's first large scale routed wireless networking installation
TORONTO, January 6, 2004 - The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) today unveiled its new wireless local area network (WLAN), a large scale solution based on a routed IP architecture. This unique application of wireless networking technology makes the MTCC a world leader in wireless capability for convention organizers and attendees. The MTCC WLAN will be able to provide guaranteed seamless and continuous wireless service to over 1,000 simultaneous mobile users.
"This installation is a truly revolutionary new technology. It's smarter than most wireless networks and combined with WLAN virtualization it can deliver unprecedented levels of scalability and availability," according to Bill McDonald, Director of Technology Services for the MTCC.
"The wireless network backbone we have developed will allow us to provide clients with Internet access and networking capability, our staff with access to our corporate network, and a wireless portable telephone system - all on a single antenna infrastructure," he added. "Our customers have diverse data networking and wireless expectations, and our goal is to meet or exceed these expectations."
Recognizing that demand for wireless connectivity has exploded over the past year from both convention attendees and organizers eager to use their new wireless enabled laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), the MTCC, in collaboration with Massachusetts-based Chantry Networks (www.chantrynetworks.com), came up with an innovative new WLAN. The Chantry development centre in Mississauga, which worked closely with the MTCC, designed a solution specifically for large convention centre use.
"There's no question that the race is on for top convention centres and other venues to provide wireless access as the latest "must-have" event amenity," says Bruce MacMillan, President & CEO, Tourism Toronto. "With an increasingly competitive market, in a challenging economy, attracting top events is vital to every city's continuing fiscal health. After location, amenities are the top priority - and nearly every business-focused event today demands full wireless access throughout their chosen venue's exhibit hall and meeting rooms. We think the MTCC has made a great investment here."
Chantry's BeaconWorksTM solution is ideally suited to the MTCC site, which has a huge physical area to cover - more than 2 million square feet of space spread out over six city blocks.
"The MTCC wanted and needed a cost-effective and efficient wireless system, one that would have a low total cost of ownership and was scalable," explains Peter N. Vicars, President and CEO of Chantry Networks. "Our BeaconWorks solution is ideal for the convention centre environment.
"With BeaconWorks' IP-routed architecture, the MTCC doesn't have to install new switches in each wiring distribution closet across the site and with BeaconWorks' virtualization capabilities, they can have separate "networks" for exhibitors, conference attendees, and staff - with different sets of access policies and privileges - all over one single physical network. The overall solution not only met MTCC's basic needs for wireless access, but also provides added services for a competitive advantage and potential new revenue streams."
The new WLAN will offer users many benefits, not the least of which will be Internet access speeds of up to 54 Mbps, which is close to 1,000 times faster than conventional dial-up. Exhibitors, for example, will enjoy full-time high speed roaming access to the Internet to display their web sites, do online ordering, and connect to their company networks back home, all from their laptops or PDAs anywhere on the Show floor.
Similarly, convention staff and organizers will be able to have their own WLANs to handle all administrative tasks, including the registration process, and communications with their head office and each other. Speakers will also have continuous online access to their presentations and the Internet as they move from room to room.
For convention attendees or Show visitors, the new WLAN will make it easy to keep in touch too. They will be able to buy limited access to the Internet in the form of a one- or 24-hour access card for use with any portable device that has the current international wireless standard (IEE802.11 A/B/G). With this card, they will be able to check their email and surf the web from any public space in the facility.
Hot spots will also offer attendees a place to gather and work outside the Exhibit Hall where the wireless signal is especially strong. Internet kiosks will enable attendees without a laptop or PDA to check their e-mail while waiting for their next session.
In addition, the MTCC will host its own Ôsplash page', a captive portal which will allow attendees limited free access to certain areas, including the Show meeting schedule, other Show communications, the MTCC's official web site, and links to official partners. The portal will also be a way for Show organizers and exhibitors to invite attendees to participate in contests, customer surveys and polls.
For the MTCC's own staff, wireless access to the Centre's in-house software programs will be a real time saver by offering them desk tools on the go. Sales staff, for example, will be able to call up information instantly, such as room availability, contracts and quotes from anywhere in the building while giving a tour to a prospective client. In early 2004, the MTCC also plans to provide a wireless in-building telephone system based on voice over IP for both staff and show attendees.
"We're very excited about the many possibilities of this new technology," says McDonald. "It's very cutting edge and I can already see how it will form the MTCC's next generation telecommunications network infrastructure."
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is Canada's largest convention and trade facility and hosts more than 700 events annually, ranging in size from large international conventions to small local corporate meetings, for groups of 40 to 40,000. Located in downtown Toronto, the convention centre has a total of 460,000 square feet of flexible exhibit space and more than 2 million square feet of total space.
The MTCC hosts dozens of different events each year, with varying exhibitors and attendees. Premier events held at the convention centre include: Toronto International Auto Show, Comdex Canada, PDAC Show and Real World Linux 2004.
For Further Information Contact:
Heather Evans
Marketing Manager
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
(416) 585-8126
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