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5G Brings Campus-Wide WiFi to DenisonBy Erik Linask Associate Editor Denison University is among the countless educational facilities across the country looking to improve-wide communication and access through advanced technology. Denison’s campus already boasts fiber access to the Internet — as well as to Internet 2, the academic supercomputing network — along with several labs and fully hardwired classrooms and residence halls. It is now hoping to offer campus visitors with enhanced connectivity.
After a six-month evaluation process, the Granville, Ohio institution chose 5G Wireless Communications over several other solution providers to install a campus-wide WiFi (News - Alert) network for the University that will be available to all students, faculty, and their guests. 5G’s advanced cellular style WiFi base stations will provide secure high-speed access day and night across the 1,000-acre campus. “Campus-wide WiFi opens doors of opportunity for everyone at Denison. The ability to sit outside on a bench on our beautiful campus or on a bunk in a dorm room untethered to the wall and surf the Net, chat with friends, process e-mail, or access the wealth of online academic resources is a convenience we will all appreciate.” remarked Lisa Bazley, Director of Computing Services for Denison University
The deployment will include an NLOS (non-line of sight) network connected by 5G’s base stations, which are compatible with 802.11b/g devices. 5G’s WiFi Hotzones function through macrocell base stations deployed from tall towers and the tops of tall buildings, while dead spots are filled in with smaller microcells following deployment strategies used by cellular carriers. The network design enables a structurally sound combination of cells allowing for higher capacity where, when, and if needed.
5G Wireless can cover entire and multiple common areas — within a half-mile to mile range depending on terrain — with a single base station at full data rate. This minimizes the number of access points needed to cover a campus-wide deployment, resulting is desirable cost savings. With up to 1,000 users per radio at full data rate, the solution can handle most entire commons areas.
5G Wireless will begin the installation process early May and is expected to fully complete deployment by July 2006, in time for the Fall semester.
Erik Linask is Associate Editor of INTERNET TELEPHONY. Most recently, he was Managing Editor at Global Custodian, an international securities services publication. To see more of his articles, please visit Erik Linask’s columnist page.
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