A post-secondary institution serving northwest B.C. has joined a roaming internet access program for educational institutions.

Coast Mountain College (CMTN) announced in mid-November it has joined the eduroam program, a service that allows wireless internet access for students, faculty and staff at all eduroam-enabled locations across Canada and around the world.

CMTN joins more than 190 locations in B.C. and more than 600 sites across the country that offer eduroam.

The secure service was developed to allow members of the educational community to gain internet access when visiting different campuses by using only one login. CMTN students and faculty will no longer require guest login information when visiting other eduroam facilities in addition to other facilities, such as libraries and airports.

Visiting students and staff from other eduroam institutions will be able to access CMTN鈥檚 WiFi while at the college鈥檚 campuses in Terrace, Prince Rupert, Hazelton, Smithers and Haida Gwaii using their own home institution鈥檚 network credentials.

鈥淪ecurity for the eduroam program is based on the most secure encryption and authentication standards in existence today,鈥� said Rimon Gerges, director of information technology for CMTN. 鈥淚ts security measures far exceed those of typical commercial hotspots.鈥�

Gerges goes on to say that by joining eduroam, CMTN is enabling its students, faculty and staff increased access to the international research and educational community.