Written by:
Vania Paone
Global Business Development Manager
Gone are the days of chalk-dusted blackboards, heavy textbooks, and hours spent flipping through encyclopedias. Today’s students and teachers are immersed in a digital world, seamlessly integrating connected electronic devices into their daily routines. These tools, faster and more efficient than ever, have revolutionized the educational experience, making learning more dynamic and interactive.
Imagine the array of devices in a modern classroom: interactive whiteboards, Wi-Fi projectors, laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart TVs, and even smart lighting systems. Reliable connectivity is essential every moment of the day, not just in classrooms but also in various indoor and outdoor areas such as administrative offices, staff rooms, IT spaces, science and music labs, sports fields, gyms, and parking lots.
Let’s take a look at an example of school technology in action.
In Italy, the average class size is about 20 students. Imagine a system integrator working at a school like my Mom's, where she serves as headmaster. This school has over 30 classrooms, 600 students, 70 teachers, 20 administrative staff, and a few custodians. Supporting all these individuals and their devices requires a robust and well-designed network infrastructure.
If every student and teacher connects to the Wi-Fi network, and each administrative staff member connects at least two devices, the network would need to support over 800 wireless devices. Additionally, wired devices such as PCs, printers, servers, surveillance cameras, IP phones, alarms, and AV devices would also need connectivity. A school network of this complexity requires an efficient, secure, and comprehensive Wi-Fi solution.
Here’s where the HPE Networking Instant On portfolio comes in. This solution can benefit schools immensely because it is:
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Budget-friendly. Budget is extremely important for schools when selecting a solution. The HPE Networking Instant On management platform is license-free with advanced functionalities built right in. Thus, schools receive the full software experience with our hardware, at no additional expense.
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Secure. Schools need robust security and must connect different wired devices. Based on the infrastructure described above, I would recommend the high-performing HPE Networking Instant On Switch Series 1960. This product protects data and keeps unauthorized users off the network with advanced security features like IEEE 802.1X, MAC authentication, VLANs, Network Access Control (ACL), port security, DHCP snooping, ARP attack prevention and RADIUS authentication.
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Efficient. For high networking usage like in administration offices, conferencing areas, auditoriums, or computers and science labs, I recommend the Instant On AP25. It offers exceptional Wi-Fi experience for high-density areas. With four spatial streams (4SS) and wider channel bandwidth (HE160) on the 5GHz backhaul, it ensures expansive coverage and high mesh throughput.
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Reliable. For areas where there is standard to moderate usage of data like classrooms and common areas, I suggest the Instant On AP22. Like any other Instant On Wi-Fi 6 access point, the Instant On AP22 is a Wi-Fi 6 certified product and equipped with advanced features like orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), downlink multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology, and the next generation of Wi-Fi security, WPA3.
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Ruggedized. For connectivity in outdoor areas like sports fields, parking, and outdoor gyms, I suggest the Instant On AP27, and all-weather IP67-rated, Wi-Fi 6 certified outdoor access point. This access point can support up to 75 active devices per AP, and has features like Target Wake Time and OFDMA, so more devices can report into the same access point without risk of overload. It can be easily connected – via wired or wireless mesh connectivity – to the rest of the network.
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Easy to manage. Easily manage your network anywhere at any time with our user-friendly management platform which can be downloaded as an app or accessed via desktop computer. We regularly update our software in response to system integrator requests, and our most recent version’s enhanced scalability, which supports more devices and users (e.g., up to 125 devices per site, unlimited admin accounts), is evidence of this.
Are you a system integrator looking to expand in the educational market, or in need of advanced networking solutions for your school or business? The HPE Networking Instant On portfolio offers seamless integration, enhanced performance, and robust security tailored to your needs. Whether managing a school, office, or other business, our solutions ensure you stay connected and productive.
Contact us to discover how our cutting-edge technology can transform your educational environment or business operations.