INTRODUCTION

From all local access Technologies, users of telecommunication services are probable paying the most attention to Wireless LAN.

The reason for its success is the manufacturers’ commitment to guarantee the compatibility of their wireless products as well as to the wireless connectivity benefits or to the reduction of mobile device expense. For this purpose, in 1999 the WiFi Alliance, -WiFi, Wireless Fidelity- was created, an international association with no profit motive in mind –that intends to certify interoperability of WI-FI products in local area networks IEEE 802.11.

Despite constant improvements in the technology – for example regulations 11b, 11g and the new coming 11h – its limitations in the radio-frequency spectrum and in its performance separate it from those technologies based on optical fibre connections (Fast/Gigabit Ethernet). Nowadays, there is no doubt that a cable high speed system cannot be changed for another which is based on switching by a wireless system.

WHY UDCWIFI?

Because of the impact of wireless Technologies in education quality in the access to TIC (Information and Communication Technologies) as they provide a flexible, ubiquitous and dislocated access and facilitate an easy integration in broadband networks. Also, because it is a research and a teaching support tool (e-learning) that complements the cable network available in computer rooms, laboratories, offices ...

PROJECT

The objective of this Project is to deploy wireless infrastructure in 49 buildings both in the Campus of Coruña and Ferrol through the acquisition and installation of access points, parchase campaigns of subsidised laptops and card loan. Priority places are:

• Areas with inadequate cable network
• Areas where the demand is greater than that available (librarie, study rooms, congresses…)
• Network areas as learning spaces

Technologies used are the following:

• 802.11g (54 Mbps)
• 802.1x (RADIUS, LDAP) and EAP-TTLS
• Information security: WPA

Signal studies were performed with ICS-TELECOM tools. They are based on the following principles:

• Availability of structured cable networks
• Priority in libraries and meeting rooms
• PA Power 100mW and omnidirectional antennas
• Signal level > -72 dBm y SNR+I > 18 dB
• User capacity higher than 256 Kbps
• 25 Mbps net in 802.11g
• Attenuations according to ITU R-1225

FUNDING:

• Agreements with the Ministry of Innovation, Commerce and Industry, Xunta de Galicia
• UNIPORTA: Subsidised acquisition of laptops for students
• UNIWIFI: Deployment of wireless infrastructure at the Galician university campuses
• Agreement on WI-FI infrastructure with the Ministry of Education, Xunta de Galicia