Paving the Way for a Smart Campus
The Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), a leader in applied sciences, is not just planning a smart campus – they're building one. With significant expansion underway and an ambitious vision for widespread IoT integration, HKMU recognised that a robust, future-proof network was essential. Their university library, a lively hub that welcomes well over two thousand visitors on peak days, became the perfect starting point for this groundbreaking network innovation.
"The library was definitely a challenging wireless project due to its high-density user environment. But that’s precisely why it was the perfect place to start. If we could achieve reliable Wi-Fi there, we knew we could expand the smart campus across the entire university."
Upgrading Connectivity for a Resilient Smart Library
HKMU aimed for a future-ready smart campus which demanded a foundational network overhaul, rather than incremental adjustments. This bold vision presented several distinct, yet interconnected, challenges:
The Library's Digital Environment
With approximately 900 seats, the library's previous network struggled to meet the demands of a high volume of users, especially on peak days. The infrastructure found it challenging to deliver the critical high-density capacity essential for seamless digital access, intensive research, dynamic online learning, and collaborative activities, thereby creating a significant digital bottleneck.
Orchestrating Seamless Integration
A key technical requirement was to integrate the new Wi-Fi 7 system with the existing Wi-Fi 6 infrastructure. This required minimising signal interference and ensuring uninterrupted network operation, a critical condition for maintaining continuous connectivity across the entire university campus.
Guaranteeing Reliable Performance
HKMU required uncompromising network resilience and widespread coverage, particularly given the library's unique physical complexities, such as tall bookshelves and thick glass partitions. The network needed to proactively avert dead zones and ensure that adjacent access points (APs) could seamlessly compensate for any failures, thereby sustaining service while administrators addressed underlying issues.
Elevating Monitoring & Troubleshooting Capabilities
To truly improve the network experience, sophisticated troubleshooting mechanisms were essential. System administrators required a solution that provided access to historical network data. This capability would facilitate swift verification of performance at specific times and locations, streamlining problem isolation and definitively ruling out network issues as the cause of user complaints.
HKMU's Transformative Library Network Upgrade
To achieve its smart campus goals and overcome these major network challenges, HKMU strategically deployed Ruijie Wi-Fi 7 technology within its library. This key project positioned HKMU as the first university library in Hong Kong to embrace this cutting-edge technology, providing immediate and clear benefits while establishing a robust digital foundation for future connectivity and innovation.
Implementing Next-Generation Wireless Performance
The new wireless network immediately delivered a profound difference. Thorough testing revealed astonishing downlink and uplink speeds on the 6GHz channel, consistently achieving 2,300 Mbps or more. This represents a huge improvement from the approximately 300 Mbps typically observed on mainstream 5GHz channels.
Intelligent Network Management and Analytics
The intelligent, cloud-based platform, WIS, provides comprehensive network management. Its heat map function assures complete coverage and provides crucial historical data for exceptionally efficient troubleshooting. This empowers administrators to swiftly check network performance, thereby making problem isolation more efficient and significantly augmenting the overall user experience.
Bolstering Redundancy and Centralized Control
For maximum network resilience and uninterrupted service, HKMU strategically positioned two centralized network controllers in separate buildings. These redundant units ensure continuous network operation even in the event of a single unit failure, substantially enhancing system reliability and uptime for HKMU's evolving digital campus.
Forging a High-Capacity Network Backbone
To support large bandwidth demands and prevent data bottlenecks, high-capacity network switches, equipped with 10G Power over Ethernet (PoE), were carefully deployed throughout the library. These powerful components seamlessly power the wireless access points, ensuring the infrastructure effectively handles massive data flows, which is critical for achieving high performance and ensuring future scalability.
An Inside Look: Eliminating Dead Zones and Maximising High-Density Performance
Heat Map Analysis
Used extensively, heat maps were crucial in ensuring comprehensive coverage. During deployment, several APs were intentionally deactivated, confirming that the automatic AI radio could seamlessly cover malfunctioning areas and maintain uninterrupted service.
Signal Strength Measurement
Detailed signal strength measurements confirmed the complete absence of dead zones. Where necessary, AP installation locations were optimised for excellent signal delivery, even amongst challenging physical obstructions such as tall shelves and thick glass partitions.
High-Density Simulation
To accurately simulate high-density usage and validate performance, testing involved over two dozen computers concurrently conducting speed tests on the network, thereby verifying robust performance under heavy load.
"After the upgrade, we followed strict testing to make sure everything worked perfectly. Today’s students expect fast, reliable internet — no excuses. Our goal was to support many users at once without dead zones. The heat map feature was especially useful, helping us find and fix any coverage or performance issues quickly."
Realising Potential Through HKMU's Network Transformation
The strategic deployment of cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technology has yielded profound advantages, fundamentally reshaping HKMU's digital environment. This innovation significantly elevates the user experience, strengthens operational efficiency, and firmly establishes a future-ready foundation for the university's overall smart campus vision.
"Our library supports a vibrant academic community. It is essential to provide our users with fast and reliable connectivity for learning, research, collaboration, and hybrid events. With Wi-Fi 7, we ensure everyone can engage seamlessly, both onsite and online. "
Elevated User Experience
Students and staff now revel in unmatched digital experiences, with speeds soaring to 2,300 Mbps or more on the 6GHz channel. This significant improvement ensures lightning-fast, seamless access for all activities, from intensive research to dynamic collaborative projects. AI-driven optimisation guarantees comprehensive, reliable coverage throughout the library, effectively eliminating dead zones.
Superior Operational Reliability
The network now boasts exceptional reliability and operational efficiency. An intelligent management platform provides real-time insights and invaluable historical data, streamlining troubleshooting processes. Robust redundancy and a high-capacity backbone ensure uninterrupted service, proactively prevent bottlenecks, and guarantee consistent network resilience for critical university operations.
A Future-Proof Smart Campus Foundation
This Wi-Fi 7 deployment serves as a key foundation for HKMU's growing smart campus vision. Its inherent high bandwidth and low latency are essential enablers for future data-intensive applications, such as advanced AR learning environments and expansive IoT integration. The network now robustly supports emerging technologies, ensuring continuous innovation in teaching and learning methodologies.
Industry Leadership & Collaborative Impact
HKMU's pioneering adoption of Wi-Fi 7 has received significant industry recognition and very positive feedback. This leadership strengthens existing partnerships and promotes deeper cooperation with allied institutions. HKMU's trailblasing role attracts considerable attention from other educational institutions, solidifying its market leadership and paving the way for future mutually beneficial collaborations.
HKMU Pioneers Wi-Fi 7 Revolution for a Future-Ready Smart Campus
In a truly major undertaking, HKMU strategically deployed Ruijie Wi-Fi 7, thereby becoming the first university library in Hong Kong to implement this advanced technology. This substantial upgrade delivers exceptional bandwidth, consistent coverage powered by advanced AI, and heightened security. Crucially, this Wi-Fi 7 foundation provides the high bandwidth and low latency essential for future data-intensive applications like AR learning and IoT, profoundly solidifying HKMU's comprehensive smart campus vision.
