- We need your help to quantify the University’s Wi-Fi estate and better understand any issues you might face in the support of your current Wi-Fi solutions. The information you provide will feed into the development of an accurate costed implementation proposal for the Managed Wireless Service (MWS)
- To this end, we would be very grateful if you could complete the Improving Wireless Questionnaire
- If you have any questions about the questionnaire or the Improving Wireless programme please contact us via improvingwirelessprogramme@it.ox.ac.uk
Improving Wireless programme pilot
Assessing the approach to rolling out the Managed Wireless Service (MWS) at the University
The University’s Information and Digital Committee (IDC) has approved a six-month pilot phase between February and July 2024 which will enable us to:
- increase the skills within the delivery team (including technical capability) to enable us to inform staffing levels for a wider implementation
- fully test the process and approach to rolling out the service, by working with a number of departments to improve Wi-Fi in selected buildings
- collect information to better understand Wi-Fi requirements
The pilot will allow us to develop a costed implementation proposal for a scalable and supportable Managed Wireless Service (MWS), to be submitted to Technology Portfolio Committee and then IDC in June 2024.
It is through considered Wi-Fi design and implementation that we will deliver improved Wi-Fi to staff, students and visitors.
The required steps in the process to design the optimum Wi-Fi for a building are outlined in Table 1 below. This involves consideration of the specific needs of each tenant and building space, working on a building-by-building basis.
| Outcome | Process |
|---|---|
|
Collect Wi-Fi, building and tenant information |
We identify IT and building stakeholder contacts, understand the current legacy Wi-Fi product quantities, local network capacity and ensure access to architectural floor plans |
|
Consult and agree Wi-Fi requirements |
On a building-by-building basis, we consult with local teams to understand building and tenant requirements, to understand what type of client devices are typically on site, and to identify what SSIDs are required |
|
Create a Wi-Fi simulation and design |
We complete a radio frequency (RF) survey (using the Ekahau industry standard surveying tool) for the building, and create a virtual RF design. This simulation helps us understand how Wi-Fi is currently penetrating the building and where coverage is good or poor. This then allows us to map out the optimum locations for your access points (APs). This remains the design unless spaces within a building change purpose, which requires a revisit and reassessment of requirements |
|
Assess and define installation and cabling work |
A dedicated delivery team reviews the requirements and provisions the kit list to support your design. The team then completes a review on site to determine cable run requirements and access point mounting options for the building and documents these requirements, in alignment with the RF design |
|
Review asbestos status |
A prerequisite is for the building stakeholders to provide the most recent copy of the building’s asbestos report |
|
Ensure listed building requirements are met and undertake on-site walkaround |
Our team will work with building stakeholders to facilitate and complete an on-site walkaround of the building with them, cabling specialists, asbestos and listed building compliance teams (if required) to discuss AP locations and the practicality of installing within those areas. A design compromise may be required should certain areas be a challenge for AP installation. To address this, the virtual RF design can be easily reviewed and updated to check the impact of moving the AP locations and to ensure good coverage is maintained, before any physical installation is carried out |
|
Install new Wi-Fi design into the building |
The team will typically plan the installation in two phases:
|
|
Validate with post-install RF survey |
Our delivery team will complete a post-install RF survey to validate the Wi-Fi installation against the building and tenant(s) requirements, and if required, to support any light remediation work |
Unless costs have been discussed separately at initial engagement regarding a specific University building, the table below (Table 2) gives an overview of what you can expect to be covered by the Improving Wireless programme pilot in its delivery of the MWS.
| Output | Covered by programme? |
|---|---|
|
Access point hardware and subscriptions for 5 years |
Yes |
|
Pre & Post Installation Radio Frequency (RF) Surveys |
Yes |
|
Wi-Fi designs tailored for each building |
Yes |
|
Physical installation of the access points |
Yes |
|
Additional data cabling |
Yes |
|
Associated planning permission costs |
Yes |
|
Network switch replacement |
No |
|
Creation of building floor plans |
No |
|
Asbestos remediation costs |
No |
The current as-is Managed Network Services annual service charges remain in place.
The programme aims to refine the service charge model as a result of the pilot phase and any updates to this charge model will be made, considering economies of scale. This will be factored into the costed implementation proposal we aim to take to the IDC in June 2024.
The IDC has approved the following:
- one college has been included in the pilot
- departments are being assessed on a case-by-case basis. The readiness of your building is dependent on where your building is within the process outlined Table 1: Improving Wi-Fi process and outcomes
The programme has received an overwhelming response from colleagues wanting their University buildings to be included in the pilot phase. We really do appreciate the interest shown in the MWS. However, we do need to stress that this is a pilot phase and the programme needs to be open and realistic with interested colleagues so are unlikely to be able to include additional buildings at this stage. Our main focus is ensuring we create the foundation for a sustainable future Wi-Fi service, as mentioned above.
To register your interest in joining the MWS in future, please email us via the programme mailbox (improvingwirelessprogramme@it.ox.ac.uk).
In order to develop a costed MWS implementation service, we need to quantify the University's existing Wi-Fi estate so please complete the Improving Wireless Questionnaire. See the Information we need from departments and colleges section above.
| Number of buildings where: | Number |
|---|---|
| Engagement undertaken with building tenants for data gathering | 20 |
| Pre-install Radio Frequency (RF) survey completed | 4 |
| Listed building and compliance signed off | 4 |
| Signed off Wi-Fi RF design and installation agreed | 7 |
|
Total number of Access Points (APs) installed |
116 |
| Post-install RF survey completed | 1 |
