American University of Sharjah Embraces Smarter Wi-Fi with Ruckus Wireless

American University of Sharjah (AUS), a premier university in the Middle East and MENA region, has selected Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi products and technology for a massive campus-wide wireless infrastructure deployment that brings high-speed, reliable Wi-Fi connectivity to thousands of students and staff.

In partnership with Fiber Optic Supplies & Services (FOSS), one of the leading network infrastructure solution providers in the region, more than 1,400 dual band Ruckus ZoneFlex indoor and outdoor Smart Wi-Fi access points (APs) have now been deployed, spanning the massive 200 acre AUS campus, covering high traffic areas such as the student refectory, lecture halls, student dormitories and outdoor green spaces.

The new Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi network infrastructure supports over 6,000 students and hundreds of faculty and staff, providing high-density wireless connectivity, pervasive performance and carrier-grade reliability essential to supporting online examinations and multimedia applications. FOSS provided all the design, planning, testing and implementation for the AUS next-generation Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Prior to embarking on this project, AUS had deployed Wi-Fi in select administrative buildings. But by early 2012, due to a dramatic increase in the number of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices used by a growing student population at AUS, the deployment of a more robust Wi-Fi network across the campus quickly became a strategic imperative.

To identify the best solution, AUS conducted an extensive 18-month proof of concept trial of various Wi-Fi technologies that included cloud-based (so-called ‘controller-less’) and controller-based (on-premises) products. The trials were undertaken in three to four week testing periods within live environments, after which AUS selected Ruckus ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi products and technology as the solution for its campus-wide network infrastructure.

According to AUS, Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi provided the lowest total cost of ownership over competitive alternatives and was selected due to its unique ability to extend signal coverage and strength, thereby delivering higher data rates to users.

With Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi infrastructure, AUS now has in place a unified indoor/outdoor Wi-Fi network that can be remotely managed from a single point through redundant Ruckus ZoneDirector controllers. Results have been impressive. Since deploying its Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi network infrastructure, AUS has experienced a dramatic 46% reduction in fault calls, as problems associated with students in AUS dorms who previously connected to the University’s wired network have been effectively neutralized.

“Deploying Wi-Fi on such a large scale required a unique solution that would not only be cost-effective but also deliver best-in-class performance to help us transform the educational experience. The Ruckus ZoneFlex system was the ideal solution for AUS to deliver a 21st century educational experience,” said Leo de Sousa, former IT Director for American University of Sharjah.

“Fast and dependable wireless access is now a fundamental necessity in delivering a 21st century educational experience for staff and students alike,” said Roger Hockaday, EMEA director of Marketing for Ruckus Wireless. “The torrid growth of smart mobile devices, online applications and digital curriculum have placed new capacity demands on Wi-Fi infrastructure that require carrier-class solutions designed to deliver pervasive performance. With Ruckus, FOSS and AUS have designed a world-class Wi-Fi solution to deal with these challenges, and one that will be viewed as a benchmark for other higher education institutions both in and out of the region.”