A LOCAL communications company has begun in-house testing of what is projected to become part of a $20M  high-speed 3G WiFi Grid, and possibly the first ever 3G network in Guyana.
The company, SimNet Caribbean Mobile, is banking on British 3G WiFi Internet technology and high- gain USB WiFi dongles to make the project a reality.
In an exclusive interview with and demonstration witnessed by, the Guyana Chronicle, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Dennis Adonis on Friday sent out a test Internet broadcast signal on the WiFi range, which was accessible at an intermittent speed of 5.4mbps via a T-mobile USB modem that was connected to a laptop some 1.5 miles away from the company’s Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara location.
According to the businessman, a total of 30 high-end WiMax broadband transmitters (and relays) would be used to form a national WiFi grid, allowing for high-speed wireless Internet connection from Timehri to Georgetown in the south; Mahaica to Georgetown in the east; and Parika to Georgetown in the west.
Internet access should also be possible for marine and fishing vessels within a three-mile radius of Guyana’s coastline in the north, primarily between Parika on the East Bank Essequibo to Mahaicony in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).
Adonis said the entire network would be immediately dependant on high bandwidth Internet via satellite, as it would be the only current means by which reliable Internet connectivity for rebroadcasting can be achieved.
He explained that Phase One of the project would take about two months before consumers can actually begin using the service, as the whole project is still in its infant stage.
Asked about the potential benefits of the service to the citizenry, the businessman indicated that his target group would be schools, small businesses, and low and middle-income communities who should be able to enjoy a 256kpbs service for as little as $2,000 per month.
However, to access the service, consumers would have to either commit to a 24-month plan, and be rewarded with a free network-locked O2 or T-mobile 3G USB modem, or invest $21,000 in an unlocked modem not tied to the company’s network or its WiFi subscription plan.
SimNet currently markets the O2 and British T-mobile range of USB modems locally, which devices  can only be used via a GSM SIM card (with a paid data plan) on either local network, but with apparent preference for the voice and data plans offered by Digicel.
Current customers would nonetheless be free to switch to SimNet’s WiFi service when it comes on stream, or continue to use the data plans offered by their network of choice.
The government has over the years opened the IT sector to allow for companies with genuine intentions to make low-cost Internet connectivity a reality for locals, as it is considered an important element in Guyana’s economic and social development.
To date, several other local companies are already offering a wireless Internet service, but via the broadband and 2.5ghz range, which has since been replaced internationally by Fibre and WiMax Internet technology.