U.S. University Creates WiMAX Environment Model to Replicate

I was excited to see that several higher ed institutions have recently hopped on the WiMAX bandwagon - a logical implementation to help schools increase productivity and decrease wireless costs. According to a recent article on Wimax.com, Ball State University (BSU) spearheaded a wireless research and innovation initiative by partnering with our friends at Alvarion and Digital Bridge Communications. Under a 6-month experimental license issued by the FCC, BSU’s Office of Wireless Research and Mapping conducted thorough field tests of WiMAX equipment in 2006, and then built a campus mobile WiMAX network in 2008. Although the network began with a single WiMAX base station and 120 degree sector antenna, it now consists of 6 Cisco base stations. In addition, BSU is recognized as a Cisco Network Academy, providing Cisco with certified wireless engineering training.

The implementation has been so successful that BSU’s expansive WiMAX program inspired neighboringuniversity, University of Wisconsin at Madison, to invoke BSU’s implementation and consulting services. BSUforecasts that they could similarly build out other university WiMAX networks and offer relevant services. It seems to me that one of the most valuable outcomes is the impetus for BSU students to learn about and participate in WiMAX engineering and network operations. I certainly would’ve enjoyed, and benefited from, getting involved with a similar program at UMass during my college days. My prediction is that by providing universities with the knowledge to reproduce the model, BSU introduces a self-sufficient strategy that could push forward widespread WiMAX implementation across many U.S. campuses.

Another significant achievement of this model involves solving a fundamental challenge experienced by campuses that own Educational Broadband Services (EBS) spectrum, but lack the expertise to develop their spectrum real estate. According to the FCC, holders of EBS Spectrum must prove significant usage by May 2011 in order to maintain ownership. Distributed to colleges, universities, school boards, and other non-profit organizations in the 1960s, EBS Spectrum, especially with BSU leadership, provides a compelling opportunity to leverage wireless broadband services.

At Towerstream, we’ve always embraced facilitating reliable wireless access to educational institutions. For example, we installed connectivity at Brooklyn College in New York City to increase bandwidth and ensure a disaster recovery plan. Towerstream commends BSU’s efforts to launch a domino effect in the pursuit of extending WiMAX to academic communities.

I’m interested to hear additional views - Do you think this is a full-proof strategy to increase campus wireless access?

From Jeff's Blog, Towerstream.com: http://blog.towerstream.com/