Wireless PennNet: Future Plans

Strategy

Penn has chosen to deploy wireless service using a class of technologies designed to serve large organizations that provide a more robust set of features as well as long-term, reliable customer support. Advantages of this class of equipment include:

1. Adjustable signal strength - allows for more precise control of transmission signals to better meet user needs.
2. Service stability - offers a more solid, resilient signal between a wireless device and a wireless area's Access Point.
3. Adaptable for multiple standards - provides compatibility with more than one wireless standard, depending on what best serves the community.
4. Reliable vendor relationship - strengthens Penn's ability to offer the best quality of service to our customers.

Approach

Wireless PennNet is being implemented at Penn in phases focusing first on areas of campus where students congregate and interact. By adopting this phased approach to wireless, Wireless PennNet will grow and expand as wireless technologies mature, keeping up with the demand for advanced technology while developing a more robust, secure wireless service.

In addition, the University has chosen a more flexible, standards-based approach in order to avoid relying on a single vendor. This allows wireless users the option of purchasing any wireless device they choose as long as it meets generally accepted wireless standards.

Research

The University is researching wireless technology with a focus on four goals:

1. Increasing bandwidth - Current deployments offer 11 Mbps of shared bandwidth. Newer wireless standards would allow Penn to offer 54 Mpbs (shared).
2. Providing more robust authenticated access - Current wireless service supports small to medium-sized groups of users due to authentication equipment restraints. Penn is investigating newer equipment offerings, looking for higher load capacity with a hope of finding equipment that will allow for seamless roaming from one campus wireless area to the next.
3. Offering higher quality of service levels - Some Internet applications, especially those that are video or voice-based, have a large degree of delay sensitivity. To meet the expectations of wireless users who want the same level of service available on a wired network, the University is exploring ways to improve wireless service quality levels.
4. Developing improved security models - Approaches that allow for the encryption of sensitive data are being investigated for possible future deployments.