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Tuning Up Campus Wireless Access                                                                                                  Customer Case Study




Wireless networking with CleanAir technology helps Tilburg University meet escalating student
bandwidth demand.

                                                                  Challenge
  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
                                                                  Founded in 1927, Tilburg University in the southern Netherlands, acquired university
                                                                  status in 1986. Today it has more than 13,000 students, studying communication,
  Customer Name: Tilburg University
                                                                  digital media, economics, law, information management, organizational studies,
  Industry: Education                                             marketing techniques, and more. The university aims to impart the highest standards
                                                                  of professional practice in an inspirational, open-minded way, coupled with a strong
  Location: Netherlands
                                                                  emphasis on ethics and social responsibility and a broad international perspective.
  Number of Employees: 1800 staff (of which
  are 1000 academics)                                             A key element in its approach is to deliver state of the art IT services. The intention
                                                                  is to acclimatize alumni to a rapidly evolving working world, while also providing
  Number of Students: 13,000
                                                                  an efficient information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure for its
  Challenge                                                       academic, operational, and administrative needs. Located on a semi-rural campus,
  •	Create faster wireless connections, indoor                    extending to some 11 hectares, the university has 15 departmental buildings, with
    and outdoor, throughout campus                                a Wi-Fi network designed to reach every part of the site.
  •	Provide robust environment for multiple
                                                                  A Wi-Fi network had been in place at Tilburg for about a decade, but in that time,
    smart devices and new educational apps
                                                                  major changes have occurred both to bandwidth requirements and the range
  •	Rapidly identify sources of network
                                                                  of chosen access devices. According to Arjan Broos, Tilburg University network
    interference for effective troubleshooting
                                                                  administrator, “Fast take-up of new devices (smart phones, PDAs, web-connected
  Solution                                                        tablets, and so on) demand an always-on wireless environment better suited to
  •	Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points                          today’s bring-your-own-device user preference.”
  •	Cisco Wireless Controllers
                                                                  In addition, the ICT department had created custom apps for i-Phone, Android and
  •	Cisco CleanAir technology                                     Blackberry operating systems. These apps enable students to locate the nearest
  Results                                                         unused PC, study results, consult university materials, or locate cafeterias and
  •	Uninterrupted connections and sufficient                      restrooms. The teaching staff also wished to expand the range of study materials
    throughput in high-density environments                       available over wireless. Yet both types of applications were available only as Short
  •	Always-on network capability for growing                      Message Service (SMS) text messages, transmitted via mobile networks.
    number of educational apps
                                                                  Interference on wavebands used in the wireless network had also become a challenge
  •	Saving of time and money in maintenance
                                                                  for Tilburg. The issue was especially acute in high-density environments, such as
    costs by minimizing interference
                                                                  lecture halls and classrooms, where the university authorities wanted student access
                                                                  to wireless applications to be as smooth and uninterrupted as possible. In these
                                                                  locations and surrounding areas, up to 400 students might be trying to access the
                                                                  network simultaneously.




© 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.	                                             Page 1 of 3
Customer Case Study




“Cisco has very sophisticated                                     “With more and more education-related apps coming in, we believe this functionality
 wireless access points                                           has to be migrated to the wireless network, so our students can make use of it at no
                                                                  extra charge,” says Martin van der Walle, team networking and telephony manager at
 with a specially developed                                       Tilburg University. “We also have to be prepared for the future, where large numbers
 chipset. The latest Cisco                                        of students in large classrooms use their mobile device to participate in lectures.”
 CleanAir technology with
 network self-healing means                                       Solution
                                                                  Having reviewed potential solutions, the university chose the newest Cisco wireless
 more data throughput, along                                      solution, just after the technology was announced. The university thus became the
 with multicast capabilities                                      very first European organization to implement the solution, either within the academic
 too. This is supplemented by                                     community or outside it.
 full management, reporting,                                      Based on the latest 802.11n wireless local area networking standard, the Cisco
 and analytical facilities.”                                      Aironet® 3600 access points offer 4x4 radio links, enabling three spatial streams,
                                                                  and are equipped with Client Link 2.0 for fast Internet connections. The solution also
Martin van der Walle                                              brings the unique benefits of Cisco CleanAir™ technology, an innovative solution to
Team Networking & Telephony Manager                               the difficulties faced by many wireless network operators in resolving interference
Tilburg University                                                issues quickly.

                                                                  Cisco® CleanAir technology provides continual, system wide discovery without
                                                                  affecting performance. Its built-in self-healing capability accurately identifies the
                                                                  source and location of radio interference, and takes automatic action to avoid
                                                                  disruption. The new access points were coupled with the flexibility and high
                                                                  scalability of new Cisco CT-5500 Series Wireless Controllers. “Cisco has very
                                                                  sophisticated wireless access points with a specially developed chipset,” says van
                                                                  der Walle. “The latest Cisco CleanAir technology with network self-healing means
                                                                  more data throughput, along with multicast capabilities too. This is supplemented by
                                                                  full management, reporting, and analytical facilities.”

                                                                  After calling in a Cisco systems integrator to conduct a spectrum analysis across
                                                                  the campus, Tilburg began implementing the solution early in 2012. It started
                                                                  by replacing 350 existing access points before adding a further 150, mainly in
                                                                  classrooms and other areas with a high user density. The longer-term aim is to shift
                                                                  users from the 2.4 GHz waveband to 5 GHz, where the ICT team anticipates being
                                                                  able to create more nonoverlapping channels.

                                                                  Results
                                                                  The Cisco solution is bringing benefits to users, both staff and students, and to
                                                                  the Tilburg network team. Cisco CleanAir technology and its network self-healing
                                                                  mechanism are especially useful when looking for sources of interference somewhere
                                                                  on the campus, which until now had been a costly and time-consuming exercise.

                                                                  “For instance, we have equipment in some buildings that produces low-level
                                                                  microwave radiation, which disturbs the wireless signal in surrounding rooms,” says
                                                                  Broos. “It’s easier to pinpoint the exact nature of a problem when users complain
                                                                  of intermittent connectivity. CleanAir makes it possible to work around the source
                                                                  of interference, so it costs us less time to find out where the interference is located
                                                                  and how to prevent it.” Tilburg University will also achieve more cost savings by
                                                                  helping enable voice over IP (VoIP) on smart phones or laptops equipped with
                                                                  soft phones. Downloading Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) software to such end
                                                                  user devices will allow calls to be made over the university’s infrastructure rather
                                                                  than mobile networks.




© 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information..	                                             Page 2 of 3
Customer Case Study




“It’s easier to pinpoint the                                      For campus users, the high throughput of the new access points promises connection
 exact nature of a problem                                        speeds of up to 1 Mbps, even in areas where hundreds of students may be seeking
                                                                  simultaneous access. The network now has ample capacity to handle a growing
 when users complain of                                           number of bandwidth-hungry educational applications, accessed over multiple
 intermittent connectivity.                                       personal devices. The Tilburg network team has also helped ensure that the
 CleanAir makes it possible                                       system will be compatible with future versions of technology for up to five years.
 to work around the source                                        “We have a small team, so we don’t have much time for troubleshooting,” says
 of interference, so it costs                                     van der Walle. “We’d rather spend money now than lose more on maintenance
 us less time to find out                                         over the network’s lifetime. So the wireless solution has to be really good, as fast
 where the interference                                           and trouble-free as possible. And with Cisco, it is.”
 is located and how to
 prevent it.”                                                     For More Information
                                                                  To learn more about Cisco Wireless solutions and CleanAir
Arjan Broos                                                       technology, please click these links:
Network Administrator
Tilburg University
                                                                  Access Points
                                                                  Wireless Controller
                                                                  Clean Air technology



                                                                  Product List
                                                                  •	Cisco Aironet Series 3600 Wireless Access Points
                                                                  •	Cisco Series CT-5500 Wireless Controllers
                                                                  •	Cisco CleanAir technology




Americas Headquarters                                   Asia Pacific Headquarters                        Europe Headquarters
Cisco Systems, Inc.                                     Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd.                    Cisco Systems International BV Amsterdam,
San Jose, CA                                            Singapore                                        The Netherlands

Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on the Cisco Website at www.cisco.com/go/offices.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go
to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply
a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

© 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.. 	            Printed in the UK	   ES/11756/0312	      Page 3 of 3

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Tilburg University Cisco

  • 1. Tuning Up Campus Wireless Access Customer Case Study Wireless networking with CleanAir technology helps Tilburg University meet escalating student bandwidth demand. Challenge EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Founded in 1927, Tilburg University in the southern Netherlands, acquired university status in 1986. Today it has more than 13,000 students, studying communication, Customer Name: Tilburg University digital media, economics, law, information management, organizational studies, Industry: Education marketing techniques, and more. The university aims to impart the highest standards of professional practice in an inspirational, open-minded way, coupled with a strong Location: Netherlands emphasis on ethics and social responsibility and a broad international perspective. Number of Employees: 1800 staff (of which are 1000 academics) A key element in its approach is to deliver state of the art IT services. The intention is to acclimatize alumni to a rapidly evolving working world, while also providing Number of Students: 13,000 an efficient information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure for its Challenge academic, operational, and administrative needs. Located on a semi-rural campus, • Create faster wireless connections, indoor extending to some 11 hectares, the university has 15 departmental buildings, with and outdoor, throughout campus a Wi-Fi network designed to reach every part of the site. • Provide robust environment for multiple A Wi-Fi network had been in place at Tilburg for about a decade, but in that time, smart devices and new educational apps major changes have occurred both to bandwidth requirements and the range • Rapidly identify sources of network of chosen access devices. According to Arjan Broos, Tilburg University network interference for effective troubleshooting administrator, “Fast take-up of new devices (smart phones, PDAs, web-connected Solution tablets, and so on) demand an always-on wireless environment better suited to • Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points today’s bring-your-own-device user preference.” • Cisco Wireless Controllers In addition, the ICT department had created custom apps for i-Phone, Android and • Cisco CleanAir technology Blackberry operating systems. These apps enable students to locate the nearest Results unused PC, study results, consult university materials, or locate cafeterias and • Uninterrupted connections and sufficient restrooms. The teaching staff also wished to expand the range of study materials throughput in high-density environments available over wireless. Yet both types of applications were available only as Short • Always-on network capability for growing Message Service (SMS) text messages, transmitted via mobile networks. number of educational apps Interference on wavebands used in the wireless network had also become a challenge • Saving of time and money in maintenance for Tilburg. The issue was especially acute in high-density environments, such as costs by minimizing interference lecture halls and classrooms, where the university authorities wanted student access to wireless applications to be as smooth and uninterrupted as possible. In these locations and surrounding areas, up to 400 students might be trying to access the network simultaneously. © 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 1 of 3
  • 2. Customer Case Study “Cisco has very sophisticated “With more and more education-related apps coming in, we believe this functionality wireless access points has to be migrated to the wireless network, so our students can make use of it at no extra charge,” says Martin van der Walle, team networking and telephony manager at with a specially developed Tilburg University. “We also have to be prepared for the future, where large numbers chipset. The latest Cisco of students in large classrooms use their mobile device to participate in lectures.” CleanAir technology with network self-healing means Solution Having reviewed potential solutions, the university chose the newest Cisco wireless more data throughput, along solution, just after the technology was announced. The university thus became the with multicast capabilities very first European organization to implement the solution, either within the academic too. This is supplemented by community or outside it. full management, reporting, Based on the latest 802.11n wireless local area networking standard, the Cisco and analytical facilities.” Aironet® 3600 access points offer 4x4 radio links, enabling three spatial streams, and are equipped with Client Link 2.0 for fast Internet connections. The solution also Martin van der Walle brings the unique benefits of Cisco CleanAir™ technology, an innovative solution to Team Networking & Telephony Manager the difficulties faced by many wireless network operators in resolving interference Tilburg University issues quickly. Cisco® CleanAir technology provides continual, system wide discovery without affecting performance. Its built-in self-healing capability accurately identifies the source and location of radio interference, and takes automatic action to avoid disruption. The new access points were coupled with the flexibility and high scalability of new Cisco CT-5500 Series Wireless Controllers. “Cisco has very sophisticated wireless access points with a specially developed chipset,” says van der Walle. “The latest Cisco CleanAir technology with network self-healing means more data throughput, along with multicast capabilities too. This is supplemented by full management, reporting, and analytical facilities.” After calling in a Cisco systems integrator to conduct a spectrum analysis across the campus, Tilburg began implementing the solution early in 2012. It started by replacing 350 existing access points before adding a further 150, mainly in classrooms and other areas with a high user density. The longer-term aim is to shift users from the 2.4 GHz waveband to 5 GHz, where the ICT team anticipates being able to create more nonoverlapping channels. Results The Cisco solution is bringing benefits to users, both staff and students, and to the Tilburg network team. Cisco CleanAir technology and its network self-healing mechanism are especially useful when looking for sources of interference somewhere on the campus, which until now had been a costly and time-consuming exercise. “For instance, we have equipment in some buildings that produces low-level microwave radiation, which disturbs the wireless signal in surrounding rooms,” says Broos. “It’s easier to pinpoint the exact nature of a problem when users complain of intermittent connectivity. CleanAir makes it possible to work around the source of interference, so it costs us less time to find out where the interference is located and how to prevent it.” Tilburg University will also achieve more cost savings by helping enable voice over IP (VoIP) on smart phones or laptops equipped with soft phones. Downloading Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) software to such end user devices will allow calls to be made over the university’s infrastructure rather than mobile networks. © 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.. Page 2 of 3
  • 3. Customer Case Study “It’s easier to pinpoint the For campus users, the high throughput of the new access points promises connection exact nature of a problem speeds of up to 1 Mbps, even in areas where hundreds of students may be seeking simultaneous access. The network now has ample capacity to handle a growing when users complain of number of bandwidth-hungry educational applications, accessed over multiple intermittent connectivity. personal devices. The Tilburg network team has also helped ensure that the CleanAir makes it possible system will be compatible with future versions of technology for up to five years. to work around the source “We have a small team, so we don’t have much time for troubleshooting,” says of interference, so it costs van der Walle. “We’d rather spend money now than lose more on maintenance us less time to find out over the network’s lifetime. So the wireless solution has to be really good, as fast where the interference and trouble-free as possible. And with Cisco, it is.” is located and how to prevent it.” For More Information To learn more about Cisco Wireless solutions and CleanAir Arjan Broos technology, please click these links: Network Administrator Tilburg University Access Points Wireless Controller Clean Air technology Product List • Cisco Aironet Series 3600 Wireless Access Points • Cisco Series CT-5500 Wireless Controllers • Cisco CleanAir technology Americas Headquarters Asia Pacific Headquarters Europe Headquarters Cisco Systems, Inc. Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd. Cisco Systems International BV Amsterdam, San Jose, CA Singapore The Netherlands Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on the Cisco Website at www.cisco.com/go/offices. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R) © 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.. Printed in the UK ES/11756/0312 Page 3 of 3