Wi-Fi Boost Project: halfway there

Wi-Fi Boost.

Published November 28, 2016 This content is archived.

By Kenneth Kashif Thomas

Technology is always advancing, and UB works to stay ahead of the curve. This is never truer than when it comes to Wi-Fi, which UB’s students, faculty and staff depend on daily.

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Kenneth.

Kenneth Kashif Thomas (UB Student, Class of 2017) is an Economics major with an interest in Journalism. He is the 2016-17 Senior Features Editor of the UB Spectrum student newspaper.

UB is currently in the middle of a three-year Wi-Fi Boost project, which involves installing 6,000 new and upgraded access points in residence halls and on campus.

"We’re always moving to the latest technology, the latest standard," said Adam Zangerle, Network Engineer for Network and Classroom Services, part of UBIT. "Wireless is still a young technology, so new standards are coming out every year. So while we’re installing the latest technology, there are people somewhere coming out with the next thing."

Although a young technology, Wi-Fi has quickly become a standard—and expected—service. As of November 2016, Wi-Fi usage at UB recently peaked at 17,000 simultaneous devices on the new network. On November 7, 2016, UB had 4,300 unique clients connecting to 3,000 access points on campus.

"There’s a bit of futurology in there," Zangerle said. "You have to see what’s coming down the pipe with devices."

As of November 2016, half of the on-campus residences have been completed, including Spaulding Quad, Richmond, Hadley, Flint, Governors, South Lake, Creekside and Flickinger, and a number of academic buildings. You can find out which buildings have been Boosted, and which ones are next, on our project page. When it comes to the future of Wi-Fi at UB, the future is fast approaching: you can expect all other UB residences and buildings to be Wi-Fi boosted by the end of 2017.