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I mplementing enterprise grade Wi-Fi technology is not just a case of putting in an access point and logging on – if only it were ! Businesses are looking for mobile solutions to their business needs , as well as introducing new devices and M2M connectivity . But whatever the line of business , it will have unique requirements that need to be taken into account so that any wireless LAN supports business processes , rather than the business needing to adapt to its IT .
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A prefabricated data centre
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY
ENCLOSURES & RACKS
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THE UK ’ S NUMBER ONE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MAGAZINE
SPECIAL FEATURE wireless networks
April 2016
SPECIAL FEATURE wireless networks
This could be you !
Things can only get better
What to expect from the Internet of Things revolution
Take me to church
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On a roll out
Ensuring the Wi-Fi network can stand up to the increasing demands of users is a challenge for installers and end users . Kevin Drinkall of ZyXEL offers advice on how to implement a successful Wi-Fi roll out .
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e ’ ve had nearly 20 years of innovation in wireless technology and an explosion in the number and usage of mobile devices , yet we still frequently hear about corporate Wi-Fi networks buckling under today ’ s user demands .
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Fourth utility
Back in business
Whether it be businesses struggling to cope with the needs of a basic staff BYOD programme or hotels failing to provide guests with a reliable network to stream their favourite TV shows from their room , Wi-Fi is now regarded as the ‘ fourth utility ’ and not enough due diligence is being done before installing a wireless network .
Any organisation planning a Wi-Fi installation is inevitably faced with a bewildering array of options , but it ’ s critical that these are addressed to ensure a successful roll out . Key questions include : what is the right technology to use ? What type , and how many , access points ( APs ) should be deployed ? How can we manage the network effectively for our users ?
Having experienced the simplicity of setting up and using Wi-Fi in their homes , many people are surprised by the factors needed to be considered when deploying a wireless network at their place of business . Tony Kelsall at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise ( ALE ) explains that the process need not cause headaches .
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I mplementing enterprise grade Wi-Fi technology is not just a case of putting in an access point and logging on – if only it were ! Businesses are looking for mobile solutions to their business needs , as well as introducing new devices and M2M connectivity . But whatever the line of business , it will have unique requirements that need to be taken into account so that any wireless LAN supports business processes , rather than the business needing to adapt to its IT .
1 : A standard solution ? What standard ?
One of the first things to consider when planning on introducing a wireless network is what standard to go for . This is essentially a choice of which generation of technology is going to support your business now , and in the future . Typically a wireless network will be in place for five years before a business will start looking to replace or upgrade so you need to ensure that whatever solution you opt for will support your business and technology needs for at least this time frame . The latest generation is the 802.11ac standard and offers greater bandwidth and support for a higher density of Wi- Fi users than the proceeding 802.11n . As the number of wireless enabled devices making their way into the enterprise grows , the number of users the solution can support becomes critical factor .
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