Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


University of AZ Wireless Voice-Data LAN Deployment Hits Milestone

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 02/22/08
The University of Arizona (UA) has completed two major phases of its wireless LAN deployments for voice and data, according to the company managing the project. Today, UA's wireless network--dubbed UAWiFi--spans more than 7 million square feet, 4,500 wireless access points, and 22 buildings. Upon completion, the initiative, which is being managed by systems integrator NEC Unified Solutions and using Cisco equipment, will comprise more than 6,000 access points and 12 million square feet on two campuses.

The network has more than 19,000 WLAN devices connected at any given time and has scaled to more than 53,000 during peak times.

Based on desires expressed by university students, the campus IT staff embarked on the effort in 2006 to provide wireless LAN-based voice and data access. Using student survey data as backup, the University IT Services department obtained support for a student service fee from students, administrators and Board members to fund the project.

"Access to cutting-edge technology is a key factor in attracting and retaining students at the university level," said Michele Norin, UA CIO. "NEC's ability to manage our VoIP network turnkey, meet our aggressive deployment schedule, and install and service Cisco equipment were our deciding factors. We believe we now have a world-class secure and scalable wireless LAN-based voice and data network for use by students, faculty, staff and visitors alike."

NEC manages the university's wireless project turnkey, including site surveys, cabling infrastructure, vendor and budget management, and deployment of Cisco's wireless solutions. In addition, the vendor is monitoring and managing the university's voice over IP network using its Remote Managed Services via its Network Operations Center in Irving, TX. To date, the company said, the university's wireless network has had a failure rate of less than 1 percent.

The university serves more than 32,000 students in Tucson, AZ.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • large group of college students sitting on an academic quad

    Student Readiness: Learning to Learn

    Melissa Loble, Instructure's chief academic officer, recommends a focus on 'readiness' as a broader concept as we try to understand how to build meaningful education experiences that can form a bridge from the university to the workplace. Here, we ask Loble what readiness is and how to offer students the ability to 'learn to learn'.

  • Wireless network and connection abstract data background with wifi symbol

    Georgetown Partners with Cisco on Large WiFi 7 Rollout

    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.  

  • college students sitting with laptops at an outdoor table

    How Colleges Are Building More Connected and Responsive Student Support

    Colleges are making steady progress in building more connected and responsive student support systems. By aligning services and improving coordination, institutions are enhancing both the student and staff experience.

  • Santa Clara University School of Engineering

    "Engineering and the Good Life" at Santa Clara University

    An ethics across the curriculum program at Santa Clara University's School of Engineering supports ethical reflection in engineering design and encourages each student to consider what it means to them to be an engineer.