Wi-Fi use hits record
Wi-Fi access at Concordia has come a long way since it was first implemented, but the biggest jump in use since the network has been available occurred in 2011, following a major network expansion.
More than 98,000 users accessed campus Wi-Fi last year. It’s a new record for total users: a surge of nearly 62 per cent in the last 12 months. It also echoes another milestone: last fall, the network reached a peak of more than 7,000 simultaneous users; only the year before, the network never went far beyond 5,000 individual connections at the same time.
The numbers are telling, but the increased capacity is just keeping pace with demand, and the university is planning another major wireless investment for the coming year.
“Until as recently as last year, our priority was to extend the wireless network to areas with little or no coverage. Now we’re focusing on increasing capacity and improving performance,” says Mike Babin, Director of Infrastructure and Operations. “We’re adapting to growing bandwidth needs among users.”
A major factor driving that rising demand lies with changing consumer technologies. Increasingly, people are expecting constant wireless access. Wi-Fi-capable mobile devices are ubiquitous – think about the last time you saw a cell phone that wasn’t ‘smart’ – that an up-to-date wireless infrastructure is now a basic operating requirement of a public institution.
The level of connectivity required in the current technological environment is significant, and shows no signs of receding. Explains Babin: “It’s not unusual for people to be carrying around multiple wireless-enabled devices, especially among students. As the prices on these devices drop, our network analytics show more and more users connecting with an iPod, smartphone and laptop, notebook or tablet – often simultaneously.”
As the university’s Wi-Fi network started showing its age, the university saw an opportunity to develop a more robust and integrated wireless solution. “The older system was sprawling, its coverage patchy and it required frequent adjustments,” says Babin. “It caused the Instructional and Information Technology Services (IITS) staff endless headaches, since each device needed to be individually managed. The network infrastructure didn’t allow for centralized control and management.”
Three years ago, the university started migrating to a new platform, deploying 300 wireless access points across campus with centralized control. “Today there are 760 Wi-Fi access points across both campuses,” explains Babin. “Over 200 of these were installed last year – that’s an increase of nearly 30 per cent.”
The expansion of the IT infrastructure continues throughout this year as the university pushes ahead with a concerted effort to build its network capacity. “For the 2012-13 fiscal year, we are planning to add another 50-60 access points,” says Marc Denoncourt, Concordia’s Chief Information Officer. “We are continuing to extend wireless service in administrative areas, including faculty and staff office spaces, but we definitely want to see increased WiFi access in common areas, for the benefit of students.’’
Related links:
• IITS Wireless Network Support
• Eduroam