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The University has been investing heavily in Wi-Fi over the last couple of years. The programme has been led by Information Services, with the aim of ensuring fast, reliable Wi-Fi for students, staff and visitors across all our campuses and buildings.
We’ve focussed particularly on teaching, study and social spaces in recent months, and are now in the middle of a programme of upgrades in much of the accommodation across the campus.
Something that has helped us to keep up with ever growing demand is the introduction of the latest standard, Wi-Fi 6. Known as “high-efficiency wireless”, it delivers the most benefit in very densely packed areas where it can handle more connections and more traffic than previous generations of Wi-Fi technology. A good example is in the Templeman library, where Wi-Fi 6 has helped us to deliver a consistent and fast service. This sounds easy until you realise that on a term-time afternoon in Templeman well over 2,000 Wi-Fi connected devices running a huge variety of applications.
Recognising that leisure is just as important as studying, we have also upgraded The Venue nightclub. Even on a busy night, packed with over 1,000 people, the Wi-Fi in The Venue is fast and reliable.
These are just two examples of the many upgrades and improvements Information Services have delivered recently.
Improving the University’s Wi-Fi is an ongoing process and not a one-off event. At the start of this (2023) spring term Information Services deployed a new feature called ‘Fastlane’. This benefits the recent models of Apple phones and tablets by more intelligently prioritising certain types of traffic. It particularly helps video and audio calls are smooth and reliable, even in the busiest environments.
Whether you’re working on your latest assignment, in a Zoom call with your family, or uploading a TikTok video in The Venue, remember good Wi-Fi doesn’t just happen, it relies on a team of experts who work continuously to deliver an excellent service.
[ dhh / jpa ]