University of San Diego Extends Higher Education Across Campus Airwaves with 3Com® Wireless Network
Students, Faculty and Administrative Staff Gain Near Ubiquitous Access to Internet and University's Online Resources
Santa Clara, Calif., June 4, 2003 — At University of San Diego (USD), the pursuit of academic excellence extends to the technology used to support its 30 programs of study. That's why when USD learned it could increase Internet and network access across its scenic 180-acre campus via a wireless network from 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS), its decision was academic.
Today, using 25 3Com® 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Points linked to 300 3Com switches in 30 buildings and a 3Com network management solution, USD provides wireless access to 6,000 students and 850 faculty and staff.
"Our 3Com wireless network greatly enriches the educational experience at USD by stretching the learning environment across our entire campus," said Tina Wing, network technician, USD. "The high-value wireless network is practical, easy to maintain, and, with 3Com's management solution, provides an exceptional low total cost of ownership."
Affixed to walls and ceilings in classrooms, administrative buildings and soon to be installed in the campuses two libraries, the access points are dramatically improving users' productivity. Students, faculty and administrators can now access the Internet, check email or search online university resources from virtually any location throughout USD's lush, ocean-side campus, including the campus coffee house, cafeteria and courtyard. Students, for example, enjoy anywhere, anytime access to USD's Copley Library, including its major bibliographic and information databases from academic and public libraries worldwide.
Head-of-the-Class Functionality
USD "went wireless" to support the changing communications requirements, demands and opportunities presented in today's educational environment, where students and faculty are as likely to tote a laptop as a spiral-bound notebook. Recognizing the cost advantages of extending campus-wide connectivity via a wireless LAN compared to wired systems, the university chose 3Com Access Points over Apple's AirPort system because of their proven performance as well as the ability of each access point to support 256 simultaneous users.
Faculty in the School of Business Administration were the first to deploy 3Com Access Points throughout their building. The university is budgeting to provide wireless service to every building on campus. The 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point 8000s extend wireless coverage up to 1,000 feet and deliver wireless Ethernet links to 3Com SuperStack® 3 Switch 4400 switches stationed across the campus. The Switch 4400s connect to USD's core network and support 15 departmental virtual LANs (VLANs), simplifying the university's network administration.
3Com's Network Supervisor management application enables IT staff to easily map and monitor the entire network, allowing them to view network events and isolate network troubles.
"Our 3Com wireless solution is significantly enhancing the productivity of University of San Diego students," said Wing. "Using 3Com systems, our students, professors and staff have immediate access to the academic resources they need, making our campus a cohesive community where learning can take place anywhere at any time."
About 3Com
3Com is a tier-one provider of innovative, practical and high-value voice and data networking products, services and solutions for enterprises of all sizes and public sector organizations. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.
This press release was accurate at the time it was issued but may not reflect 3Com's current strategy or product offering.
Source 3Com®
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