Private networks for smart universities

Private networks can be an ally for higher education institutions looking to digitalize the tools and services they offer on their campuses. To carry out a rapid and successful digital transformation, they need to evolve their wireless communication infrastructures by deploying solutions that meet the diverse connectivity requirements of current and future applications.

Many educational institutions have tried to support their digital aspirations by installing, upgrading, or expanding their Wi-Fi networks on campuses. However, Wi-Fi has limitations in key areas such as reliability, security, performance, coverage, capacity, and mobility. These limitations could prevent institutions from fully leveraging the benefits of broadband applications and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Taking campus wireless communication to the next level

Universities have diverse and changing needs that require campus-wide communication. Among the applications driving the demand for better wireless connectivity are:

• Digital classroom technologies and digital productivity tools, such as smart lighting, whiteboards, and podiums.

• Industry 4.0 laboratories that enable teachers, staff, and students to study the use of communication technology to support industrial IoT applications.

• Campus security systems, such as cameras, smoke detectors, emergency buttons, and drone-based surveillance.

• Campus communications, including VoIP/PBX systems and group communication applications such as "push to talk" and "push to video."

• Digital billboards that display general information, emergency notices, or assist with campus navigation.

• Remote learning applications, such as virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) classrooms, that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

• Enhanced connectivity for student housing, including accessible high-speed internet, facility management, emergency calls, and smart home services.

• Mobile e-commerce and delivery services that can support ticket sales for concerts and events, as well as food and beverage services.

Why are they ideal for these uses?

4G/LTE networks are the right choice for these new applications because they can match the reliability, predictability, and security of wired solutions while supporting wireless and mobile communications. They are based on global standards and have been proven in public networks worldwide. Additionally, they provide a direct evolution path to 5G.

It also offers significant advantages over Wi-Fi when it comes to mission-critical communications. For example, 4.9G/LTE and 5G provide much more predictable latency and data speed performance and can connect hundreds of devices, machines, sensors, or workers with a single small cell.

Private Networks vs. Wi-Fi

Cybersecurity

Wi-Fi lacks solid cybersecurity and is vulnerable to hackers. In contrast, the 3GPP standard offers end-to-end encryption, IPSec for network communication, and secure authentication for all users and devices.

The security of LTE has never been compromised, and 5G will bring even greater security capabilities.

High reliability

Interference has a significant impact on the reliability of wireless networks. LTE manages interference with advanced schedulers that adapt radio efficiency, device coding, and resource usage in real-time.

Ubiquitous coverage indoors and outdoors

Unlike Wi-Fi, LTE and 5G have various capabilities to overcome obstacles. They can provide reliable coverage for people, sensors, machines, and vehicles across the campus. LTE also supports spectrum options that can enhance coverage and support higher frequencies.

Predictable performance

Performance remains stable and predictable everywhere, even under heavy loads. A 4.9G/LTE network can maintain end-to-end latency of 9-15 ms, while Wi-Fi may have higher peak performance than LTE if there are few users and no interference.

High multi-user capacity

Private wireless technology can provide enough capacity to support several hundred active users and thousands of connected devices per small cell.

Total mobility

LTE and 5G are based on 3GPP standards that consider seamless, gap-free mobility as an essential feature for a range of use cases, including those involving vehicles moving at high speeds.

A network for all applications

Educational institutions can simplify their operations and reduce costs by consolidating their applications into a single network. A private wireless network has the advanced capabilities and high performance required to support all types of traffic and an almost unlimited number of use cases, as illustrated above.