LAWIFI Coastal Trials 2025/2026
This summer, the Connectivity Innovation Network will commence large-area coastal trials of its Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) System in collaboration with Surf Life Saving NSW.
The trials will focus on three NSW beaches: Garie Beach, Wattamolla and Warriewood, where geography and terrain have made reliable connectivity difficult to achieve. These locations were selected to assess how extended-range Wi-Fi coverage can support public safety in areas where mobile reception is limited, and in some cases, non-existent.
Safer beaches through extended-range connectivity
Reliable connectivity is critical to emergency response and public safety. At many coastal locations, gaps in coverage can delay alerts and limit communications when they are needed most.
The LAWIFI trials will explore how wide-area outdoor Wi-Fi can help address these challenges by providing extended connectivity coverage across beach and headland environments. This includes supporting faster alerting of emergency services and improved situational awareness during incidents.
About the LAWIFI system
LAWIFI provides wide-area outdoor connectivity with coverage of up to 2 × 2 kilometres from a single deployment. The system uses advanced antenna design and patented Wi-Fi protocols. These were developed through collaboration between researchers at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney, together with industry partner WANFI Technology.
Designed for rapid deployment with minimal infrastructure, LAWIFI is well-suited to temporary and hard-to-reach locations. The technology has already been tested successfully in remote and rugged environments, including national parks and coastal settings.
What the trials will assess
Working closely with Surf Life Saving NSW, the trials will examine:
- How extended-range Wi-Fi performs in coastal environments
- The reliability of connectivity in areas with limited mobile coverage
- Potential benefits for public safety and emergency response operations
Insights from the summer trials will inform future development and potential use cases for LAWIFI in coastal and other challenging environments.
Important information
- Trial Service Only
The public Wi‑Fi service is provided on a trial basis during the peak summer period and is operated solely by the Connectivity Innovation Network (“CIN”). - No On‑Site Support
Users acknowledge and agree that no on‑site technical or customer support is available in connection with this trial. - Surf Life Saving Personnel
Users must not seek assistance from Surf Life Saving NSW or any surf lifesaving staff or volunteers. These personnel are not responsible for the Wi‑Fi service and are unable to provide support. - Reporting Issues
Connectivity issues may be reported through the captive login portal and/or via this link: Submit a LAWiFi trial issue - No Guarantees
The Wi‑Fi service is provided “as is” for evaluation purposes only. CIN makes no representations, warranties, or service level commitments regarding availability, performance, or reliability.
Trial duration:
Summer of 2025/2026
Trial status:
In progress
Connecting to LAWiFi at the beach
When you’re at one of the trial beaches, open your Wi-Fi settings and look for the public network below:
Garie Beach – Garie_Public
Wattamolla Beach –Wattamolla_Public
Warriewood Beach – Warriewood_Public
Find out more
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For enquiries:
- Media Enquiries: communications@connectivityinnovationnetwork.com
- General Enquiries: admin@connectivityinnovationnetwork.com
