SYDNEY: Until a few years ago, telecommunications on the Pacific island of Niue consisted of a few hand-cranked telephones. But this week the tiny country is launching the world’s most sophisticated national internet service.

The 260 sq km lump of coral 2,400 kms north-east of New Zealand is to become the first country in the world to have a nationwide wireless internet system. Locals with a laptop and an aerial will be able to surf the net at home, on the beach, in a restaurant, or from a boat.

Wireless internet has been the holy grail of telecommunications for years. Internationally the system is found, albeit still quite rarely, on Wap and 3G mobile phones.

The society will hang solar-powered aerials from coconut palms to bring the internet to the island’s population of 1,700 in the coming months.

“Copper wires corrode too quickly and easily get knocked out by lightning strikes,” said the society’s Richard Saint Clair. “We’re better off doing without them altogether.”

The technology being adopted is identical to the wireless internet available in some offices, hotels and cafes in big cities around the world. The difference on Niue is that the system is free for public use.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service.