The competition will be held over three weeks in the University's new Pacific Ocean Sciences and Technology building on the Manoa campus.
Organizers say it demonstrates the potential for a permanent testing lab.
Such a lab would encourage economic development in Hawai'i by attracting high technology firms here and, at the same time, provide UH students and faculty with exposure to the latest in communications technology equipment, according to Brian Chee, president of the Hawai'i Network Users Group, who helped organize the test. The companies' designs are then tested in a simulation of projected traffic loads on such a system. Each company is given three days. The companies are finding it a lot harder than they expected. They are having to deal with real challenges, such as coming up with spare or replacement equipment when you can't get overnight delivery.