p.30-31 ict and comms - Meru 9:Page 6 03/09/2009 11:48 Page 30
ICT - Networking and Communications
Meru Networks builds wireless
schools for the future
The ability to deliver full bandwidth of 802.11n while handling a high density of users
without disconnections or dropouts makes Meru a hero in educational ICT
M
eru Networks’ “wireless without students comfortably. The crux of the plan was
compromise” has vast potential for the flexibility. In the new learning environment,
future development of education delivery. students would need the freedom to work
With some of the largest school, college and wherever they needed to work. Reliable wireless
higher education deployments globally, networking, therefore, was key.
Meru’s cutting-edge “virtual cell” wireless “We considered two other solutions that used
architecture has the proven ability to deliver ‘microcell’ architectures, but these were ruled out
the highest-speed IEEE 802.11n standard at full because the vendors had never really had
power to hundreds of students experience trying to support over 120 users all in
simultaneously, without any dropouts, failed one room,” said Charles Ealham, New Line Learning
connections or quality-of-service problems. Federation Network Manager. “It was like a new
With huge investment directed at education concept to them. It soon became clear that Meru
and ICT investment in particular, UK schools was the right choice for our unique requirements.”
are finally starting to take notice of the Plaza Three at Cornwallis Academy has been fully
transformational innovation Meru’s wireless operational with Meru wireless for three months, wireless vendors. The Academies’ transition to the
architecture can provide. and everything is running smoothly, with “virtually new learning environment has already resulted in a
One Meru Networks end user, Maidstone’s New no problems whatsoever,” according to New Line number of positive changes in students’ behaviour.
Line Learning Federation, is using Meru to Learning Federation Vice Principal Alan Enfield. The “The kids are already becoming more
transform its two academies into wireless “hubs” of Meru network is running at full speed in both independent and resourceful,” said David Simons,
interactive learning. The Academies’ plans centre on spectrums, while simultaneously supporting an Head of Cornwallis Academy. “They’re better at
the concept of “elearning plazas”: purpose-built extremely high density of users without the self-regulating their own behaviour and working in
multimedia rooms large enough to fit 100-150 dropouts and disconnections that plague other teams. They’ve really started thinking about the
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www.education-today.co.uk September 2009
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