Ball State University and Firetide Bring Mobile Internet to Campus Shuttle
Intel's 'Most Unwired Campus' Installs Wireless Mesh for Students on the Go
LOS GATOS, Calif. and MUNCIE, Ind., Aug. 22 -- Firetide, Inc., a leading developer of wireless multi-service mesh networks, today announced the most recent deployment of its wireless mesh technology at Ball State University.
Ball State University, named Intel's "Most Unwired Campus" in 2005, deployed Firetide's mesh solution to provide students with a variety of wireless services including live video and a mobile WiFi mesh network that allows continuous Internet access on the university's shuttle bus service along McKinley Avenue, which runs through the center of campus.
Firetide's ability to mesh seamlessly in any environment has led to overall improved wireless connectivity on campus. The newly installed mesh network increased the university's network capacity as well as reduced the amount of bulky wireless equipment that the university once used for an earlier wireless network.
"Working with Firetide has been a very positive experience," said Vernon Draper, the university's assistant director of computing. "The entire network was installed without marring campus scenery with unsightly boxes and wires. One of our goals was to free the campus of unattractive outdoor hardware."
Ball State's Information Technology department will look at the results and benefits of this test pilot, with the possibility of expanding the mesh network throughout campus as well as adding nodes and cameras to additional shuttle buses in the future. Additionally, Ball State is exploring the idea of deploying additional mesh infrastructure to areas that require higher wireless bandwidth, such as the university's College of Architecture and Planning.
Firetide nodes are self-forming and self-healing. They enable rapid deployment and dependable operation. Because Firetide's mesh is rooted in Ethernet technology, ports can be used for video surveillance cameras as well as other devices. Using redundant paths, the system allows for continuous connectivity if a node is disabled or a line-of-sight obstruction enters the picture.
"Our multi-service mesh networks are perfect for universities like Ball State's where large numbers of students and faculty use wireless to access the Internet on campus," said Firetide CEO Bo Larsson. "Performance and scalability are essential for delivering a full range of network services over a wireless infrastructure. This includes the ability to provide jitter-free video, Voice over IP, and data to a new generation of power users who have expect high-speed mobile connectivity at all times in all locations."
Equipment for the project included both indoor and outdoor Firetide mesh nodes operating at 5.8 GHz. This frequency was selected to reduce the possibility of contention with other wireless equipment already installed on campus. For its wireless mesh network, the school acquired five Firetide 3203 HotPort(TM) outdoor wireless mesh nodes and two Firetide 3103 HotPort indoor wireless mesh nodes. Gateway connections in nearby buildings linked the wireless mesh to the rest of the schools' wired campus network.
About Firetide Inc.
Firetide is the leading provider of wireless multi-service mesh networks that enable concurrent video, voice, and data for municipal, public safety and enterprise applications. Firetide HotPort mesh networks and HotPoint access points provide a secure, high performance wireless mesh infrastructure and access solution for video surveillance, Internet access HotZones, public safety networks and temporary networks wherever rapid deployment, mobility, and easy of installation are required. The company's patented AutoMesh flow- based routing protocol optimizes network performance and capacity for high bandwidth and latency sensitive applications. Headquartered in Los Gatos, California, Firetide is a privately held company with worldwide product distribution. For more information, visit www.firetide.com .
About Ball State University
Ball State University, located in Muncie, Ind., is the third-largest public university in Indiana, with more than 18,000 students. Originally a private teacher training school when it opened in 1899, Ball State became a university in 1965. The 1,035-acre campus in Delaware County is an hour's drive northeast of Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.bsu.edu .
Source: Fireside, Inc.
CONTACT:
Mike Downes
Firetide, Inc.
Tel: +1-808-387-2181
mdownes@firetide.com
Dominic Ybarra
Edelman
Tel: +1-650-762-2960
dominic.ybarra@edelman.com (for Firetide, Inc.)
Anthony Romano
Ball State University
Tel: +1-765-285-1563
romano@bsu.edu
Web site: http:/// www.bsu.edu
http://www.firetide.com/
