Drexel, one of the largest universities in the US, spans across three campuses in Philadelphia. The university is globally accredited for providing quality education by integrating technology with academics.
Recently the university signed an agreement with a wireless network service provider, EarthLink, to enhance the service portfolio offered by Drexel’s Dragonfly wireless network.
Headquartered in Atlanta, the solution offerings from EarthLink are customized to match the end users needs and identified by their high-quality connectivity and minimal online intrusions.
According to Constantine Papadakis, President of Drexel, the support from EarthLink will enable Drexel’s Dragonfly wireless network to provide students, faculty, and staff members on the campus instant access to university’s resources and services. Additionally, it will facilitate unlimited Internet browsing via EarthLink’s Wi-Fi
networks.
Drexel’s private Dragonfly wireless network is considered to be the largest in the world with approximately 28,000 registered wireless devices operating upon it. The university will run a one-year trial program starting September this year to evaluate the pros and cons resulting from this venture.
Drexel has made path-breaking contributions in the field of education with the incorporation of next generation wireless technologies. One of its most significant contributions in this regard was the installation of a comprehensive wireless network within all its campuses across Philadelphia in 2000.
In 2002, Drexel launched a mobile portal called DrexelOne. This portal aids students on the campus to receive important information, such as grades, class schedules, announcements, and instant alerts via their wireless cell phones, Blackberry, Treo, and so on.
Papadakis said in a statement, “The program is not meant to replace traditional wireless access on our three campuses but instead will provide full wireless access service for a limited time each month to our students, faculty and staff across the Philadelphia area complementing our existing wireless and wired solutions. This partnership is ideal for Drexel as we are always at the forefront of incorporating the latest technologies into academia.”
The alliance with Drexel has given EarthLink a unique opportunity to showcase its varied products and service offerings.
Executive vice president of EarthLink and president of the ISP’s municipal networks unit, Donald Berryman, commented, “EarthLink is a leader in municipal Wi-Fi and by working with Drexel to extend their service across our network we can show the flexibility of our network architecture to deliver wireless broadband to many different types of businesses and organizations. EarthLink's open access program enables wholesale customers to connect to our Wi-Fi networks on their terms.”
Philadelphia is home to around 80 colleges and universities that admit nearly 300,000 students every year. The need and demand for comprehensive wireless service packages has thus been consistently increasing.
In association with the Wireless Philadelphia (www.wirelessphiladelphia.org), EarthLink is setting up a citywide wireless network in Philadelphia to meet the growing demand.
This network is being hailed as the largest in the US and will further benefit Drexel’s Dragonfly users by providing them unlimited access to EarthLink Wi-Fi. Additionally Drexel’s students, staff, and faculty will be able to avail EarthLink’s wireless services throughout the US, even while traveling.
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.
Internet Protocol (IP) | X |
| IP stands for Internet Protocol, a data-networking protocol developed throughout the 1980s. It is the established standard protocol for transmitting and receiving data
in packets over the Internet. I...more |
802.11 (Wi-Fi) | X |
| The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard is usually referred to as Wi-Fi-Wireless Fidelity or WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. The 802.11 standard has evolved into a number of sub-standards 802.11a/b/g...more |
Internet Telephony Magazine
Click here to read latest issue
CUSTOMER 
Cloud Computing Magazine
Click here to read latest issue
IoT EVOLUTION MAGAZINE
By 
