What is YOUR problem?
No Landline and seemingly no prospect of getting one in the foreseeable future ?
Landline from Telefónica but no ADSL/Broadband Internet availability ?
Paying the cost of living in a “mobile phone only” environment ?
Using other, slow, unreliable, cumbersome and costly methods of connecting to the Internet (i.e. GPRS) ?

Well, there’s no problem now - Wi-Surf has arrived !
Recently launched in Spain on the Costa Blanca (and soon going national) Wi-Surf SL has finally brought a real solution to the telecommunications and internet connection problems we all experience when living in Spain.

How does Wi-Surf solve these problems?
The Wi-Surf solution deals with the four "elements" of the problem by providing:-
1) A reliable high-speed Internet connection at a suitable, local point.
2) A reliable way of distributing the Internet connection to local residences, and businesses.
3) A simple, flexible, and effective way of connecting personal computers, laptops, or networks without the need for ANY mobile OR landline telephone connection, but allowing the PCs or laptops to be positioned and used virtually anywhere - from the office to the garden.
4) Access to cheap, outgoing national and international telephone calls.
ALL WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ANY FORM OF TELEPHONE CONNECTION.

The first element – the Node.
Node is the term Wi-Surf use to describe the local access point to a high speed Internet connection - be it fibreoptic, permanent copper cable, telephone lines, radio signal, or satellite links.
Due to the logistical and cost issues of every building having suitable wire/fibre based connections Wi-Surf use a 2-way satellite link. A local satellite dish only needs to see the sky to provide a high-speed connection to the Internet. All the satellite dish needs is line of site just west of south – and 220 volts. The satellite link can be 2Mb down and 512K up.

The second element – the distribution
To deliver the high-speed Internet connection to local users Wi-Surf uses radio technology. The technology used is a point to multi-point solution allowing many individual users to access one Access Point (AP), and share the available bandwidth of the Node (see fig 1). The radio system used is referred to as WiFi (hence “Wi-Surf”). 
WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity and is the fastest growing way of communicating between people and computers.  Signals are transmitted to your PC from a central location via a small and unobtrusive aerial (not another satellite dish).   This wireless connection gives you reliable, two way, high speed access to the Internet and outgoing telephone calls at low cost.  Wi-Fi technology gives laptop and/or desktop PCs and PDA users freedom to surf the Internet or communicate without wires OR the need for traditional land or mobile-based telephone connections. It is a standard, whose frequencies and power levels are regulated, with the maximum output power levels being  100mW, which is much less than the average power output of mobile phones, and mobile phone masts – Typically 100W, Max 1kW.

The third element – connecting to the wireless network
Any PC or laptop with a standard, "off the shelf" WiFi card that can "see" the wireless network can be connected and enjoy the bandwidth available via a Wi-Surf supplied wireless access system. Using this facility also means that only cable dependency the PC has, from a positioning point of view is its nearest 3-pin plug socket. Laptops are only restrained by their battery limit, or nearest plug point.

The fourth element – Cheap telephone calls
Once you are connected to the internet, Wi-Surf can also connect you to its soon-to-be-launched Wi-Call Internet Telephony service.
By downloading a simple piece of software and plugging either a simple headset or “USB Phone” into your PC or laptop, you are able to make cheap, outgoing telephone calls to anywhere in the world, at prices that compete with and often better than any of the cheap call options available to people with landlines or mobile phones (i.e. calls to most European countries are at 5 cents per minute).
Whilst VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is still in its infancy, the outgoing call facility is clear and realiable. 
In addition, Wi-Call can also offer an incoming Internet telephone service that will give a Spanish (or British, or German etc.) telephone number that will route calls directly to your Internet telephone system and a normal telephone via an inexpensive piece of equipment known as a “Residential Gateway”. 
In short, as VOIP and satellite internet technology advances, the need for any form of telephone will possibly soon disappear.

The advantages
The satellite Node provides a reliable, secure, high-speed connection, whose reliability is not affected by the weather. It also provides a low contention ratio.
Contention ratio describes the number of users, who at any one time might all be using the available bandwidth.
Standard residential ADSL offerings around Europe often involve a contention ratio of 50:1 or more, for a connection of 512K down and 128K up. The satellite Node provides a contention ratio of 4:1 on 2Mb down, and 2:1 on 512K up.
The wireless point to multi-point network uses a system known as a Mesh. A Meshbox is connected to the satellite and creates the radio network. Due to the power limitations the range of the radio signals can be bounced from one Mesh box to another. Several Mesh boxes can be located between 300 and 550 metres apart to increase the area covered by the Mesh (see Fig 2.).
Any PC or laptop that can "see" any of the Mesh boxes can connect to the Node.

And there’s more !
Once you have your high-speed Internet connection, what will you do with it?
Wi-Surf aim to help you here too ...
Unlike any of their competitors, in addition to its current e-mail and internet/telephone connection facility, the Wi-Surf.com website is currently under extensive re-development and will soon be re-launched as a true Internet Portal providing access to local, national and international news (inc sports), on-line radio programmes (inc local), entertainment guides, weather etc., together with a wide range of innovative “E-Commerce” sites that will enable you to buy and sell your car or Villa/Apartment (inc Rentals), sell unwanted items, look for or advertise a job, book travel tickets. 
In fact, as the site grows, you will eventually be able to do anything on Wi-Surf that you can on any of the big, UK based/oriented websites such as MSN, Freeserve etc. but with a clear and useful local/Spanish orientation.
What does it all cost ?
The initial system installation cost, which includes the provision of all necessary equipment to get you “on the net” (apart from your PC) starts at 285.00  euros  plus  IVA, for a simple single point installation using a basic antenna.
Should you need a more powerful antenna or any other specialised equipment to get you connected, this cost can rise.  Also, if you want to have a full wireless network capability within your property, further additional equipment will be required.  A full, no obligation quotation will be provided after an experienced Wi-Surf representative has visited you and performed a “Site Survey”.
Once connected, and depending on the number of users in your local area, the Wi-Surf monthly cost starts at 100.00  euros plus IVA per month (for a Satellite node servicing five or fewer clients) dropping down to a mere 35.00 euros plus IVA per month for nodes servicing 25-plus clients.
With a constantly increasing number of central Nodes already operational on Cumbre Del Sol near Benitatxell and nodes soon to be installed in locations in the Xaló Valley, La Sella and Benitatxell town itself over the coming week. Wi-Surf is confident that by the end of this year, there will be so many of their interlinked Mesh networks operational that Customers will be able to enjoy the benefits of their service within 48Hrs of their initial order.  In fact, Wi-Surf is so confident that the demand for their service will just grow and grow, they are starting to invest in Nodes throughout the Costa Blanca and beyond without waiting for groups of 5-25 or more in the belief that, once operational, Customers will not take long to register for a connection.
With regard to the Wi-Call service, call costs are subject to change and are paid for in advance via the Wi-Surf website.  The costs for any equipment required and incoming call numbers are additional and will be quoted on request.
For a no-obligation informal chat about the service or to book a visit from one of Wi-Surf’s relaxed and professional representatives (they pride themselves on ensuring that none of traditional “hard sell” techniques are used and that ALL potential customers are provided with ALL the information they need to make an informed decision), visit the Wi-Surf Website at www.wi-surf.com