DS Networks: Fiber Optics and High-Speed Wi-Fi for Students

Background

DS-networks as an Internet service provider, equips customers such as student residences, co-working spaces and business campuses, but also shopping centres and specialist markets with fast networks. As a managed service provider, this Erlangen-based company also handles printing services, electronic locking systems or remote access to video systems.

Challenge

DS-networks' current project is the Adam-Stegerwald-Haus in Würzburg. On behalf of the FDS charitable foundation, DS-networks is to equip this hall of residence, which is currently being renovated, with internet and TV. Students expect reliable high-speed Internet throughout the campus — for online lectures and seminars via web meeting as well as for private streaming, gaming and web browsing. The entire complex, with more than 400 apartments and rooms, will be connected via fiber optics and will enable both LAN and Wi-Fi connections for a large number of terminal devices. However, the existing cable ducts are not designed for a larger number of cables. A special solution was required to distribute Internet and TV via just one cable.

"A student dormitory has very high demands in terms of bandwidth. The age of the users alone implies a very high number of terminals. Wi-Fi as the main connection medium is taken for granted by students." - Moritz Staiger, Managing Director, DS-networks GmbH

Solution

As a long-term partner, Huawei was closely involved in the project planning and supported DS-networks with technical advice, testing equipment, and network configuration. The individual buildings of the dormitory are now connected via passive optical LAN (POL). Each individual residential unit is supplied with its own fiber optic cable, which also carries the TV signal. The SmartAX EA5801 optical line terminal (OLT) from Huawei was used as the headend to which all network components are connected. The AirEngine 9700 -M1 access controller, the EchoLife EG8012H5 optical network terminal (ONT) as endpoint and media converter for the TV signal, and more than 350 AirEngine 5761-11W access points ensure a seamless Wi-Fi network. The access controller supports the Private Pre-shared Key (PPSK) from DS-networks (see below) for logging into the network.

Advantages

Thanks to fiber to the room, DS-networks can provide every apartment with high-performance gigabit fiber Internet. Students now have their own virtual network and also a more reliable, faster Wi-Fi (AX instead of AC) throughout the campus. The registration process has been significantly simplified: The PPSK-enabled Huawei access controller means that residents only need a password to connect to the Wi-Fi network, not a user name. This means they can also integrate game consoles, smart TVs, and smart home devices into the home network — and control them from anywhere on the campus. The passive GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology in the Huawei solution requires fewer active components in the server room, thus saving power, space, and hardware costs.

More about DS-networks

DS-networks GmbH was founded in 2015 by Moritz Staiger and Jonas Dreher, while they were studying in Erlangen. After equipping their own dormitory with Wi-Fi, the shareholders received further commissions for student dormitories from the FDS charitable foundation. The small team of five employees now manages projects throughout Germany as well as in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. DS-networks is a registered Internet service provider with the German Federal Network Agency. From conceptual design to end customer support, the Erlangen-based company offers everything under one roof. The core business is still dormitories, but equipping a retirement home is the next target.