Athens’ Acropolis Goes Wi-Fi, Connects to the World

Imagine surfing the Net from one of the world’s greatest monuments. Well, visitors to the Acropolis in central Athens, can now enjoy free Wi-Fi access thanks to the National Research and Technology Network (GRNET) and the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA).

Whether you’re a student, a researcher or a professor, you can now sign in with your university access “credentials” and roam the Net through “eduroam”, an international roaming service for users in research, higher education and further education. It provides researchers, teachers and students easy and secure network access when visiting an institution other than their own.

The project was completed by the GRNET in collaboration with the YSMA,  which designed and supervised the installation of the advanced Wi-Fi infrastructure that allows wireless Internet access.

In the meantime, the GRNET is working on the creation of Internet applications providing details and information on the archaeological site.

Eduroam is part of the GÉANT network interconnecting Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). It connects over 50 million users at 10,000 institutions across Europe, supporting research in areas such as energy, the environment, space and medicine.