The Connectivity Innovation Network (CIN) and Pivotel deployed the Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi system (LAWIFI) during the 2026 NSW Surf Life Saving Country Championships, held in South West Rocks from 23 to 26 January 2026.

Delivered in collaboration with Surf Life Saving NSW, the deployment provided a live operational environment to trial LAWIFI during a major coastal event, with more than 1,100 competitors supported by officials, safety teams and event staff. The event was characterised by high user demand, limited fixed infrastructure and the need for reliable, wide-area connectivity to support coordination and safety.

The deployment also supported the evaluation of LAWIFI components developed under the Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation (TDRI) program, contributing insights into system performance and deployment considerations in coastal and temporary event settings.