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Georgetown Partners with Cisco on Large WiFi 7 Rollout

Key Takeaways

  • Georgetown University is partnering with Cisco on a multi-year WiFi 7 deployment: The project will roll out WiFi 7 across classrooms, dorms, stadiums, and other campus locations, making it one of the largest WiFi 7 initiatives in higher education.
  • The rollout includes WiFi 7 across all wireless spectrums and Cisco networking tools: The deployment will use the 6 GHz band and include Cisco’s enterprise switching and wireless solutions, providing faster speeds, lower latency, automation, and advanced network analytics.
  • The upgrade includes unified management and layered security: Georgetown will streamline access layer management and use Cisco tools such as multi-factor authentication, end-to-end network visibility, and security operations analytics.

Georgetown University is working with Cisco on a multi-year network revamp that will implement WiFi 7 across the institution's classrooms, dorms, stadiums, and beyond — making it one of the largest WiFi 7 initiatives in higher education, according to a news announcement.  

Improving the Digital Experience

Cisco's WiFi 7 technology will be deployed across all wireless spectrums including the 6 GHz band, resulting in faster speeds and lower latency for information retrieval in real time — even in high-density environments, the announcement said. For example, students, faculty, and staff will be able to connect seamlessly with faster, more reliable tools to support teaching, learning, and campus operations, and researchers working with massive datasets will be able to share, analyze, and store data securely from anywhere on campus. The rollout will also include Cisco's enterprise switching and wireless solutions, providing automation and advanced analytics on network performance and usage patterns.

"This end-to-end infrastructure enables simplified operations, proactive optimization, and a seamless digital experience for every user," Cisco noted.

CIO View

"Our community's academic and research ambitions require a network that is as innovative and forward-looking as they are," commented Doug Little, chief information officer at Georgetown, in a statement. "This investment ensures our students, faculty, and staff have the seamless, secure connectivity they need to excel in a rapidly evolving digital landscape."

On the IT side, the network upgrade will unify access layer management, streamlining building connectivity while improving overall infrastructure manageability. Georgetown will also employ a multi-layered security framework utilizing Cisco tools, including multi-factor authentication, end-to-end network visibility, and advanced security operations analytics.

Industry Perspective

"In higher education, 'fast' is the past—'instant' is the future. With one of the largest WiFi 7 deployments in higher education, Georgetown and Cisco are redefining campus connectivity with faster speeds and lower latency for unmatched digital engagement," said Gary DePreta, senior vice president of U.S. Public Sector at Cisco. "Together, we're building an AI-ready foundation to lead and transform educational experiences."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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