University of Bahrain (UoB) has implemented a campus-wide wireless network infrastructure from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, offering connectivity for over 26,000 students and 1,800 staff.

Kanoo IT, a division of E K Kanoo Group, Aruba’s integration partner in Bahrain carried out the implementation and was instrumental in the success of the project.

Attiya, director of IT Center, University of Bahrain said: “We wanted our staff and students to take advantage of the mobility revolution as our goal is to transform into a digital university. A high performance Wi-Fi network would be fundamental to this vision.”

“As smartphone penetration in Bahrain exploded, we began to see these devices become much more prevalent in our campus. We were presented with an opportunity to introduce new mobile services but needed to upgrade our wireless infrastructure,” Attiya added.

With a campus that sprawls over 5 sq km in area and up to 10,000 simultaneous users on the wi-fi network, high-density, security, ease of installation and configuration, and rapid troubleshooting were key requirements for success.

“At the time of our Wi-Fi overhaul, we also upgraded our core network with switches from a different technology vendor. However, the integration was seamless which helped keep the project on track,” said Attiya.

An immediate benefit of the upgrade has been the improvement in data transfer speeds and the ability of each AP to handle a high-density of simultaneous connections. This ability has proved to be of vital importance in areas where students tend to congregate.

Alabdi, head of Information Networks Division – IT Center, University of Bahrain said: “We offer a unique mobile app for student registration and during this period of the academic year, we have up to 600 students in one particular area. But since each Aruba AP can handle 100-120 simultaneous connections, we manage this peak volume with a minimal number of APs.”

“Aruba’s ClientMatch technology automatically connects client devices to the best possible access point. By eliminating sticky clients, the feature has enabled seamless roaming between APs without any noticeable drop in wireless network performance,” explained Alabdi.

Aruba’s solutions greatly simplify the administration and management of the wireless network. Each of the 450 APs can be centrally monitored and controlled and even updates can be pushed out centrally without the need for manual intervention.

Furthermore, the solution supports a wide number of mobile device platforms. “This has been of paramount importance since we see all types of devices and mobile operating systems connecting to our network. Yet, we never see users facing challenges due to this factor,” said Alabdi.

UOB’s confidence in its wireless network is further extended by the limited lifetime warranty that is offered on Aruba’s APs. Through its support contract with Kanoo IT, the University also enjoys same day replacement guarantees on vital components in the network.

Security has been another key area that Aruba’s solution has managed to address. “Thanks to Aruba’s built-in firewall, we have a high degree of security without added complexity. Furthermore, the solution easily integrates with other security devices in our environment,” said Alabdi.

With the first phase of the upgrade successfully completed, 70% of UOB’s campus now enjoys Wi-Fi coverage. “Our plan is to extend this coverage in phases based on the requirements of the various departments within the campus. With the continued support from Aruba and Kanoo IT, we look forward to expanding our network infrastructure, allowing it to match the growth and usage within the University,” he added.  – TradeArabia News Service