Wifi Revolution

Colgate University students and visitors with mobile Internet-capable devices will now be able to surf the net roaming not only on campus, but around downtown Hamilton as well. The New York-based college has reached an agreement with wireless mesh network provider Tropos Networks and Integral Wireless Solutions to deploy a new, campus-wide outdoor network. The outdoor network was deployed with Tropos’ wireless routers.

The college’s move was fueled mostly by its student’s ever growing demand for broadband wireless access.

“In the last two to three years, we noticed that our students have a much more digital lifestyle, owning three to four different mobile devices,” said Colgate’s associate director of technology planning Rich Grant in a statement. “There has been a pent-up demand for ubiquitous broadband wireless access, particularly in the residential dorms, on campus and where students congregate. As a result, we launched an initiative to provide a pervasive WiFi network, including outdoors on the campus and in the downtown area of Hamilton where many of our students live. Now, we have from 1,500 to 2,000 users of the WiFi (News - Alert) network at any given moment.”

Campus and downtown area visitors will also be able to log in as guests at no charge for Internet access in certain areas, including the village square, the Colgate Inn and Barge coffee house.

The college plans to implement other applications for the network including VoIP, as well as asset tracking capability for laptops, audio visual equipment, textbooks and files.

Don't forget to check out TMCnet’s Whitepaper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers whitepapers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

---------

Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.

Back to WiFi Revolution home