Leading uni modernises infrastructure with Extreme Networks’ campus and Edge networking solutions
Extreme Networks, a cloud-driven networking company, has announced that Leeds Beckett University is deploying its campus networking solutions and WiFi 6 technology across 85 buildings and its sports facilities.
Leeds Beckett is one of the first universities in the UK to deploy WiFi 6. The deployment is part of a planned £200 million investment in campus developments over the next five years to support digital transformation initiatives, deliver a modernised student experience, improve engagement, and drive attainment for its 28,000 students and 2,900 staff.
To help achieve student-focused digital transformation, Extreme designed a tailored network infrastructure underpinned by Extreme Elements, including Extreme Management Centre software, Extreme Fabric Connect technology, ExtremeWireless Wi-Fi 6 access points and Extreme Switching products.
Over 2,000 ExtremeWireless WiFi 6 access points will also be rolled out over the next 12 months. The bespoke network empowers remote access from anywhere on campus and provides increased network capacity, security, and compliance whilst helping to unlock new efficiencies.
Specific new capabilities include optimum Performance with WiFi 6; ExtremeWireless WiFi 6 solutions provide greater flexibility and increased bandwidth to support more devices, including internet of things (IoT) devices, and advanced immersive applications. Purpose-built for challenging physical environments, the access points ensure seamless, secure WiFi connectivity that can perform up to 40% faster than the previous WiFi 5 standard, and stronger connections for real time social media sharing, video streaming, and mobile app usage.
Also, real time automated control of network traffic, as Extreme Management Centre software provides a path to real time, automated, end to end visibility and control of the network. By utilising automation to offload routine, traditionally manual, tasks, Leeds Beckett can unlock efficiencies in its day to day operations, reduce costs, and improve performance across its campus.
Advanced Edge network services with Extreme Switching allows Leeds Beckett to extend virtual network services to the network edge, collapse multiple network layers into a single logical services architecture, and create a centralised point of control. These edge network services have created a scalable, cost efficient network that can support thousands of extended remote ports.
Networking simplicity is possible with Extreme Fabric Connect, which takes the complexity out of networking, empowering Leeds Beckett with a single, next generation technology to help optimise system availability, incorporate system and service resilience, and enhance network visibility. This makes it possible to sustain a far more robust and resilient network than competitive alternatives, which can also be quickly and easily scaled with the addition of new services.
Finally, Extreme’s fabric technology allows the institution’s IT service to stretch the fabric to the edge and across campuses, providing roaming capabilities for staff that make their jobs easier and simplifies the delivery of services for their technical team. Furthermore, the Extreme technology stack allows for the logical and physical separation of consumer IoT technologies (with their associated inherent risks), from its corporate technologies and information assets that need to be appropriately secured and protected.
Dr Basem El-Haddadeh, director IT services, Leeds Beckett University, commented: “Our network infrastructure is the lifeblood of our organisation and represents an important enabler for digital transformation. Putting WiFi 6 at the heart of our revitalised network architecture will have a profound and positive effect on our WiFi enabled communications, whilst Extreme Fabric Connect empowers us with an advanced and powerful network that can scale as we do. Both demonstrate our commitment to investing in next generation solutions that will support our vision of using technology to deliver improved student engagement, retention and attainment.”
John Morrison, senior vice president of international sales, Extreme Networks, concluded: “Student expectations are higher than ever before and educational institutions like Leeds Beckett are putting important digital transformation strategies into action. The next-generation network infrastructure we are delivering sets an incredibly high benchmark and is one every university should strive for. By putting the student experience first, and building a tailored solution to support that, Leeds Beckett now has a robust, flexible, and resilient network that can scale to meet the ever-accelerating needs on its campus from staff, visitors, and students.”
