University To Build Largest Wireless Campus Network in China
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 03/18/09
China's Southwest Jiaotong University will develop and deploy its wireless campus network using 3Com's H3C enterprise wireless equipment. H3C is a China-based subsidiary of 3Com. Once completed, the campus wireless network may be the largest in the country. The H3C network will connect the Xipu, Jiuli, and Emei campuses of the university, providing wireless access to 50,000 teachers and students in classrooms, lecture halls, dormitories, and outdoor common areas.
Southwest Jiatong contacted a dozen domestic and international wireless LAN equipment vendors to design and present potential solutions. After six months of testing and verification, the university chose H3C's integrated mobile solution, which includes 700 H3C WA2100 series and WA2200 series FIT access points and three WX6103 access controllers. The system will accommodate future expansion as well as next-generation technical protocols IPv6, 802.11n, and WAPI. The wireless network also supports wireless surveillance, mobile VoIP, and other wireless applications.
3Com said each access controller can manage 640 FIT access points and support 20,000 wireless client devices. The setup integrates the university's original wired network with its wireless network, and provides secure access to users through a combination of unified hardware platforms, network management, user management, and security modules. It's integrated with the campus one-card system, which facilitates access for teachers and students. H3C also supplied the university with 3Com's Intelligent Management Center, a Web-based console for centrally managing the network.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.