Wismar University of Applied Sciences Relies on Huawei for Future-proof Campus Network

End-of-life of a campus network

Founded in 1908, the University of Applied Sciences in Wismar was faced with the task of renewing its ageing network infrastructure. The existing equipment had reached the end of its life cycle and had therefore reached its natural limits in terms of performance, flexibility and support. LAN and WLAN were also managed via different platforms. This situation made standardised management and efficient use of network resources difficult: After all, up to 5,000 students and employees access the campus network every day. The new solution needed to run on-premises with permanent licences as before and also be multi-client capable. Management, access confirmations and analyses should be possible in one system.

All-in-one solution comprising hardware and management

Following a public request for proposals, Huawei was awarded the contract as the new provider of the campus network infrastructure. In collaboration with the certified Huawei partner Controlware, the university's IT team headed by Tobias Dietrich implemented a comprehensive solution: the portfolio includes data centre switches for the data centre, campus switches for the local network, Wi-Fi access points for comprehensive WLAN and the iMaster NCE management system for uniform administration.

Implementation began in December 2022 with the technical preparation phase, followed by a rollout until autumn 2023. “Huawei's guaranteed delivery times were impressive,” says Dietrich. “Despite the global supply chain problems at the time, we received the hardware in less than two months.’ In total, the university IT department installed around 350 access points and 130 switches. The work was carried out during ongoing operations, which required careful planning in order to minimise disruption and downtime. This was because the new components also had to be integrated into existing services such as the university network Eduroam.

Better performance, more flexibility

The new Huawei network infrastructure offers Wismar University of Applied Sciences numerous advantages. One key aspect is the standardised management: “All components can be managed via a central interface, which makes configuration and management much easier for us,” says Dietrich. IoT WLAN networks are much easier to deploy. The system also gives IT greater flexibility: in future, separate Wi-Fi networks can simply be set up via a central portal for external events on campus, for example. The multi-client capability allows different departments and faculties to manage their network areas independently – even in the external offices.

By purchasing permanent licences instead of a subscription model, the university can use the hardware long-term and economically. Thanks to the on-premises installation, the institution also retains control over its data and systems, thereby preserving its digital sovereignty. The improved performance of the Huawei campus network thanks to the latest WLAN standards and higher bandwidths enables significantly better network performance for all users. The future-proofing of the new campus network is guaranteed by the broad Huawei portfolio, which can be used to fulfil current and future requirements.

About University Wismar

Wismar University of Applied Sciences Technology, Business and Design was founded in 1908. It offers a wide range of interdisciplinary degree programmes in the fields of technology, business and design at its campuses in Wismar, Rostock-Warnemünde and Malchow. With around 7,500 students in attendance courses, distance learning courses and preparatory courses as well as around 50 degree programmes, it is one of the largest universities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Wismar University of Applied Sciences is characterised by its application-oriented teaching and research, international focus and close cooperation with companies in the region.

Further information can be found at: https://www.hs-wismar.de/en/