Created on 4.8.2009
Khipu completes Alcatel-Lucent's largest UK wireless campus deployment at Thames Valley University
Students welcome new IT facilities, as deployment extends to 44,000 potential users
March 26th, 2009 - Khipu Networks and Alcatel-Lucent today announced the completion of a major campus-wide wireless project at Thames Valley University, Alcatel-Lucent's largest wireless campus deployment in the UK to date.
The solution enables 44,000 potential users to benefit from secure wireless access to the university network and the internet, irrespective of their location on campus, while the new facilities are already receiving the praise of Thames Valley University students.
"The new wireless network is very popular with students as they are now able to use their laptops to access information and resources from anywhere on the campus. We have also noticed a change in the way in which students interact with each other - especially when carrying out group work".
Matt Pledger, Representation and Student Activities Manager for the TVU Students Union.
Secure and centrally managed Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) have been deployed by Khipu at Thames Valley University's Ealing, Brentford (Paragon), and Reading sites, covering all University departments and buildings and providing a flexible working environment for all full and part-time students, as well as staff and conference delegates.
Network users can now complete a quick and easy registration process to connect personal laptops, and mobile devices to the university network, where they can access learning resources and shared documents such as lecture notes and coursework topics.
"Any technology deployment requires buy-in from its user base to be successful - when there are 44,000 potential users, the stakes are definitely raised, which is why we're so happy with the feedback on our wireless facilities. Furthermore, the flexibility of the Alcatel-Lucent and Khipu offering has allowed us to grant ease of network access for students without compromising on security, particularly impressive given the scale of the rollout".
Maggie Stephens, Director of Learning and Information Services at TVU.
To secure the IT facilities, Khipu has integrated network access control (NAC) based upon the Bradford Campus Manager solution, preventing unauthorised network access and ensuring that users remain compliant with Thames Valley Universitys IT security policy at all times. The wireless network has also been integrated with the Universitys existing IT security solutions.
"Not only has Thames Valley University greatly improved student and staff collaboration by going wireless, but it has deployed a solution that can support all manner of new interactive learning technologies and applications, allowing the University to quickly evolve in order to meet future student needs"
Matt Ashman, Khipu Networks.
Please visit Khipu's EDUCATION MICRO-SITE for further information on our customer deployments, case studies and solutions - click here to enter.
Khipu are exhibiting at the following venues, please come and visit us for more information on our solutions and Education based customers.
NETWORKSHOP37 at the University of Cambridge (31st April 2nd May) stand 24. We are also presenting More than NAC with Bradford Networks during the event, on the Wednesday at 11:55 in the West Road Concert Hall.
WIRELESS & MOBILE 09 at Olympia, London (20th 21st May) stand 1816.
About Thames Valley University
Based across three campuses in West London (Ealing and Brentford), Reading and Slough, Thames Valley University offers a range of vocational and academic courses from further, higher and postgraduate education programmes to professional and short courses, for students aged 14 to 84-years-old. The university is the UKs largest provider of education in hospitality, healthcare, music and related disciplines.
1. Named No. 1 for graduate employment (Times Higher Education, July 2008).
2. Home to Londons top hospitality school, providing integrated training from culinary arts to hospitality management.
3. Home to the London College of Music, the leading specialist institution for pop music and music technology.
4. Ranked No. 8 for Nursing Studies (Guardian University Guide 2009).
5. The only university to offer a degree course developed in conjunction with Hewlett-Packard Limited, the leading technology solutions provider (Computer Systems Management FdSc).
For further information, please contact Khipu:
- T: 0845 2720900
