University Of Minnesota And Trapeze Networks Announce 802.11n Deployment

Pleasanton, CA - Trapeze Networks recently announced that the University of Minnesota plans to deploy its Smart Mobile 802.11n wireless network product suite campus-wide, marking the largest ever 802.11n deployment to date. Beginning in May and continuing over the next five years, approximately 9,500 access points (APs) will be deployed to serve more than 80,000 people across the university's two campuses. Students, faculty and staff will have fast and secure wireless access wherever and whenever they want it.

"The University of Minnesota strives to be on the cutting edge of technology to provide students and faculty with the tools they need to succeed," said Steve Cawley, vice president and CIO, Information Technology, University of Minnesota. "After a rigorous RFP and evaluation of 24 WLAN responses, we determined the Trapeze solution was the right fit to meet the university's performance and security requirements. Additionally, the network management and planning tools allowed us to quickly import our own CAD drawings and immediately begin Wi-Fi planning for 300 buildings, including 1,300 plus floors."

"Wireless access has become a part of college life. It's essential for students, faculty and staff to have a reliable Wi-Fi connection whether it's needed for doing research at the library, a school project with a study group or emailing peers," said Jim Vogt, chairman and chief executive officer, Trapeze Networks. "We commend the University of Minnesota for being the first Big Ten school to deploy 802.11n campus-wide. This is a perfect example of how leading higher education institutions can use technology to differentiate themselves and offer an improved learning environment."

The University of Minnesota (U of M) Twin Cities Campus sits on 1,204 acres at two campuses. The Minneapolis Campus straddles the Mississippi River and is connected to the St. Paul Campus by a university-owned bus route more than two miles long. With nearly 80,000 staff and students (the third-largest student body in the country), it is essentially a small city.

With 300 buildings, 22,122,000 square feet indoors, and large outdoor areas to cover, the university needed a seamless and pervasive network reaching all indoor and outdoor locations while supporting high-density wireless usage in areas like large auditoriums and sports complexes. Specifically, migrating to 802.11n will enable the university to:

• Ensure reliable and secure Wi-Fi coverage across campus to support students' heavy network demands
• Prepare for wireless bar code ticket scanning at its new football stadium (opening in fall of 2009) to speed up gate entry and protect against counterfeit tickets
• Give students, faculty and staff ability to determine Wi-Fi coverage of any area on campus ahead of time. Using a tool like Google Earth, users can click on a building and choose a specific floor to see if wireless coverage exists -- in real time.
• Provide constant connectivity inside every building and outdoors across the entire campus, even when traveling back and forth across the Mississippi River bridge connecting the two main campuses
• Support future integration of emerging wireless standards such as WiMAX

The university's existing Wi-Fi network is outdated and lacks extensive management capability. It grew from a series of small pilot projects deployed by several departments, resulting in a mishmash of equipment from different vendors. The Trapeze implementation will unify the entire wireless network into a single, cohesive, centrally-managed network that is more secure, easier to manage and still permit guest access.

SOURCE: Trapeze Networks