Private Networks for Smart Universities

Private networks can be an ally for higher education institutions seeking to digitize the tools and services they offer across their campuses.

To carry out a rapid and successful digital transformation, they need to evolve their wireless communications infrastructure by deploying solutions that meet the diverse connectivity requirements of both current and future applications.

Many educational institutions have attempted to support their digital aspirations by installing, upgrading, or expanding their campus Wi-Fi networks. However, Wi-Fi has limitations in key areas such as reliability, security, performance, coverage, capacity, and mobility. These limitations could prevent institutions from taking full advantage of broadband and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Taking Campus Wireless Communication to the Next Level

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

Digital classroom technologies and digital productivity tools, such as smart lighting, whiteboards, and podiums.
Industry 4.0 laboratories that can enable faculty, staff, and students to study the use of communications 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 signage that displays general information, emergency alerts, or helps with campus wayfinding.
Distance learning applications, such as virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) classrooms accessible from anywhere in the world.
Enhanced connectivity for student residences, including accessible high-speed internet, facilities management, emergency calling, 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 Private Networks Ideal for These Use Cases?

4G/LTE networks are the appropriate 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. Furthermore, they offer a direct evolution path to 5G.

They also offer significant advantages over Wi-Fi when it comes to mission-critical communications. For example, 4.9G/LTE and 5G deliver much more predictable latency and data rate 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 robust cybersecurity and is vulnerable to hackers. By contrast, the 3GPP standard offers end-to-end encryption, IPSec for network communication, and secure authentication for all users and devices.

LTE security has never been compromised, and 5G will deliver 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 utilization in real time.

Ubiquitous Indoor and Outdoor Coverage

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 entire campus. LTE also supports spectrum options that can extend coverage and accommodate 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, whereas Wi-Fi may deliver higher peak performance than LTE only when there are few users and no interference.

High Multi-User Capacity

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

Full 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 high-speed vehicles.

One Network for All Applications

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