Wifi Revolution

The latest member survey by ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, indicates that the trend of using wireless networking on college and university campuses is continuing. The survey shows that around three out of four schools plan to expand their networks over the next two years.

 

ACUTA surveyed members in connection with its Fall Seminar in Boston where the members were asked to identify the most significant change in their cabling and wiring infrastructure over the last several years. 60 percent of the respondents cited deployment of wireless networks as the biggest change in contrast to 13 percent who chose installation of fiber-optic cable. Another 13 percent of the surveyed members believe rewiring projects for technology upgrades to be most significant.

 

Demand for “connectivity anywhere” was the primary reason for the key networking change according to two out of three survey respondents. 40 percent found evolution of communication styles to be the major factor. Other drivers for the change were meeting growing capacity needs (33 percent) and migration to Voice over IP and Unified Communications (News - Alert) (23 percent). 

 

According to the survey, network access anywhere and anytime was the single greatest benefit of the change (42 percent). 23 percent cited user convenience, 17 percent chose network efficiencies and 10 percent selected greater bandwidth as the greatest benefit.

 

A number of respondents reported problems in the wireless networking on college and university campuses. 56 percent of respondents are challenged by the cost of their change and 21 percent find it difficult to locate and install the many wireless access points needed for coverage.

 

71 percent of the respondents want to further expand their wireless network. 19 percent want additional rewiring projects and 73 percent of respondents intend to take these steps within one year. The survey also informs that for information communications technology professionals the highest-impact issues are shrinking budgets, a greater need for long-range planning, the need to learn new technology skills. They are also aware of the responsibility that comes with growing campuses and face shortage of skilled manpower.

 

“While wireless networks do make communications and computing far more convenient on campuses, they do have their challenges in terms of cost and management. The same is true for other advancing technologies as well,” said Jeri Semer, executive director of ACUTA.

 

 

Back to WiFi Revolution home