Gatekeeper’s MWS (Mobile Wi-Fi System) brings the convenience of Internet access via a local Wi-Fi connection on vehicles and school buses. The MWS system allows students (and other authorized users) to connect their Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the Internet. Internet access is available when the vehicle is in motion or if the vehicle is parked to provide community Internet access. A rugged mobile Wi-Fi access point is mounted in the vehicle. This access point is specially designed to operate in the extreme temperature range found on school buses.

Data received by the Wi-Fi access point is transmitted via a cellular connection. All data is routed back to the school’s IT infrastructure. In this way, a school’s firewall/content filter can be utilized thus making for a safe Internet experience for students.

The Gatekeeper MWS can provide specific access to school staff so that their data is routed through a different set of firewall/ content filter rules. This is to allow teachers and other approved staff the ability to access additional Internet sites as permitted.

Routing to the school’s IT system is achieved via a VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel. The VPN functionality is built in the on-vehicle Wi-Fi/Cellular device. On the fixed side the VPN is terminated by either a low-cost VPN application which can be run on a server located in school district IT infrastructure or alternatively a low-cost VPN appliance is available.

Either a single sim cellular or a dual sim cellular modem is available. The dual sim modem allows for either carrier diversity or combining 2 cellular channels for increased throughput. In the dual sim device, the software is available to combine the data into a single data stream once it is in the school’s IT network.

Gatekeepers trained deployment staff make the installation, setup, and operation of the system very easy.