HKUST Spearheads Comprehensive Wireless Network with Cisco’s 802.11n Solution
The First University in Hong Kong to Offer Pervasive Wireless Coverage in Student Hostels
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Cisco today announced that the university will provide pervasive wireless coverage in its student hostels by deploying the Cisco(R) 802.11n solution. The first such deployment among universities in Hong Kong, the 802.11n wireless solution will help answer the growing demand for wireless mobility among students and support bandwidth intensive e-learning applications to create a truly connected learning environment.
Offering stable wireless access and up to five times the throughput of current 802.11a/b/g networks, the 802.11n infrastructure will serve a community of over 4,100 resident students, providing them with location independent Internet connectivity via mobile devices such as notebook computers and smartphones, as well as enabling high-bandwidth multimedia applications including video-on-demand and multimedia virtual classrooms.
“In fulfilling our vision of being a leading university with strong local commitment and significant international impact, we strive to offer the most innovative learning experience for our technology savvy students. Cisco’s wireless networking solution will help enable a highly secure, stable and scalable network by realizing the truly wireless performance of 802.11n technology. This sets a new benchmark for wireless networks among universities in Hong Kong as well as facilitating the development of e-learning and, ultimately, a knowledge-based community in the university,” said Lawrence Law, Director of Information Technology Services Center, HKUST. “We have chosen Cisco for its innovative next-generation wireless solutions and proven track record in the education sector and we believe this initiative will represent a milestone in the provision of student facilities in Hong Kong.”
Cisco’s 802.11n solution, underpinned by a 10 Gigabit Ethernet backbone, will help HKUST offer greater performance and extended coverage of pervasive wireless connectivity in its student hostels. The solution, with speeds of up to 300 Mbps, supports bandwidth intensive applications such as video-on-demand and other multimedia e-learning applications, enabling students to access information and resources at any time and anywhere in the hostel area. With this new multiple-input/ multiple-output (MIMO) technology, students in the university’s hostels will also be able to enjoy predictable WLAN coverage and reliable connectivity for a variety of mobile devices.
The backbone of the Cisco networking infrastructure to be deployed for the HKUST student hostels includes Cisco Catalyst(R) 6509-E Chassis, Cisco SUP720 Supervisor Engine with 10- Gigabit modules, Cisco Wireless Services Module (WiSM), Cisco Catalyst 3560E Series Switch, Cisco Aironet(R) 1252 802.11n Access Point and Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS). The infrastructure is expected to be gradually in service starting this September when hostel residents will benefit from the enhanced wireless connectivity and services made possible by the Cisco solution.
Apart from this implementation in the student hostels, the university will consider widening the scope of the Cisco wireless network with the deployment of other solutions like Cisco outdoor wireless mesh network solutions, Cisco Mobility Services Engine (MSE) and Cisco Virtual Switch System (VSS) to further fulfill its vision of building a connected knowledge-based community.
“Cisco’s vision of Connected Learning is to help colleges and universities transform themselves into more globally-focused, student-centric learning environments of the 21st century. We are delighted to collaborate with a farsighted institution of higher education like HKUST to create a truly connected wireless learning environment where students, teachers and users can reap the most benefits from next-generation wireless networking technologies. This deployment will surely raise the bar for wireless network deployment in the higher education sector and take e-learning to the next level,” said Barbara Chiu, general manager, Cisco Hong Kong and Macau.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a leading university in Asia with special emphasis on research, post-graduate education, and close collaboration with business and industry. The University comprises five Schools: the Schools of Science, Engineering, Business & Management, Humanities & Social Science, and the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha, Guangdong Province. Current student enrolment is about 9,000 at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Plans are underway in preparation for the transition from a three-year to a four-year undergraduate program, with a concomitant expansion in student and faculty numbers. The medium of instruction and administration is English.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Hong Kong and Macau is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Karen Chu Cisco Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2588 3292
Email: karenchu@cisco.com
Amy Yim iPR communications
Tel: +852 3178 9011
Email:amyyim@iprcomm.com.hk
Ross Lai The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928
Email: rosslai@ust.hk
Donna Wong The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Tel: 2358 6317
Email: donnaw@ust.hk