Fraunhofer WiBACK
Fraunhofer WiBACK

Stadtwerke Bruneck

Hiking, skiing and Internet access

WiBACK at Stadtwerke Bruneck

Objective:

Extend Internet access to remote farms, businesses and hikers.

Challenge:

Surrounded by mountains, the town of Bruneck lies embedded in a landscape shaped by nature. Where some people are enthusiastic about the beauty of nature and the skiing facilities, the Bruneck municipal utilities in particular are faced with the challenge of bringing the Internet down to the most remote locations in the valley, where for example companies or hikers need internet acces, despite the geographical obstacles.

Planning the network:

With Google Earth, you can plan a network in just a few steps, giving you a first overall impression of what network structure is feasible without the need for elaborate planning on site.

Stadtwerke Bruneck could expanded its network with WiBACK to include the marked points (excerpt).

Realisation:

Stadtwerke Bruneck installed a total of 30 nodes, enabling them to bring Internet to companies, hotels and hikers.

No longer out of range: WiBACK as broadband alternative to typical sDSL or cable connection

Blue skies, sunshine, well-groomed ski runs, lodges with atmosphere, all backed by the snow-crowned peaks of the Dolomites. Perfect for skiing or simply just relaxing. The cable-drawn funicular railway is already bringing thousands of skiers and visitors up to the top of Kronplatz in early morning. At the foot of the Kronplatz lies Bruneck, which has an optical fibre network deployed in the city centre. However, many secluded farmyards and companies are located miles away, making it too expensive to connect them to an optical fiber network. Instead, WiBACK is used to provide broadband Internet connectivity as it can overcome geographical barriers over greater distances.

 

The network is operated by Stadtwerke Bruneck (local municipal utilities) and is still growing. Currently 30 nodes are in use. It is a typical example where a rural municipality uses WiBACK to provide broadband connectivity to their publication as an alternative to typical xDSL or cable connection.

Impressions of WiBACK in Bruneck