W&M Boosts Wi-Fi Capacity in Kaplan Arena
William & Mary Information Technology has completed a Wi-Fi expansion project in Kaplan Arena, the home of Tribe Athletics and the venue for many high-visibility events, such as the Charter Day ceremony and new student orientation. The project aims to enhance the digital experience of the campus community and visitors by providing reliable and fast wireless internet access in the arena.
Led by IT’s Director of Infrastructure Norman Elton, the IT infrastructure team took on the challenge of designing, securing funding and resources, executing wire pulls, installing and testing, and dismantling the existing alternative network used during large events. The project team consisted of Melissa Palacios, project manager, Mary Bull, network engineer and designer and Jeff Jolly, network engineer.
Before the project, the Wi-Fi infrastructure in Kaplan was sufficient to support traffic during normal business operating hours. However, it was unable to handle the Wi-Fi needs of crowds during large events. To prioritize the needs of those working during these events (media, ticket takers, event managers, etc.) the former practice was to turn off the standard Wi-Fi network and turn on a password-protected Wi-Fi network. As cellular service was also lacking in the building, average users received little to no data on their mobile devices while attending events.
Modernizing the Wi-Fi infrastructure and amping-up network capacity has negated the need for the password-protected network. The project team has installed 111 wireless access points in Kaplan, covering the seating areas, the concourse, the locker rooms, and the offices. This upgrade will also result in a better experience for those who work in Kaplan daily.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with our great partners in Information Technology,” said Richard Whitmore, W&M Athletics Deputy Athletics Director. “They assessed our needs, mapped out, and executed a game plan to dramatically enhance our fan’s game day experience. Additionally, the project has provided high-speed wireless connectivity to every office space in Kaplan, which will be a huge benefit to our staff for years to come.
Another benefit of the Wi-Fi expansion project in Kaplan is that we can now provide data and calling services to guests in the building. Notably, the upgrade enables visitors with AT&T and T-Mobile to automatically connect to our Wi-Fi guest network, via a recently implemented service called Passpoint. The data connection appears seamless to the user. Passpoint also enables phone calls within the building, if the user has Wi-Fi calling enabled in their phone settings. Visitors with Verizon can connect our guest network, by logging in at connect.wm.edu.
“This upgrade is an important improvement in connectivity for our students, employees and the community and was made possible by the collaborative efforts of Tribe Athletics and IT,” said Chief Information Officer Ed Aractingi. “I thank all those who worked on this, especially because of the accelerated timeline, to get it ready by the time students returned to campus. We already saw great improvement during new student orientation in Kaplan!”
For visitors from other educational institutions, they can automatically connect to the eduroam network and enjoy seamless and secure internet access while attending events in the arena. Eduroam allows users to log in with their home institution credentials and access wireless internet at any participating institution. W&M is one of the many universities that offer eduroam as an option for its campus community and guests.
The Kaplan Wi-Fi expansion project is not an isolated effort, but rather part of a larger vision to modernize the Wi-Fi infrastructure at W&M. The university recognizes that reliable and fast wireless internet access is essential for the academic success and well-being of its students, faculty and staff. It also supports the operational efficiency and innovation of its various departments and units. Therefore, one of the strategic actions for W&M’s Vision 2026 strategic plan is to "modernize the university's technology infrastructure to allow for students, faculty and staff to maximize human potential and efficiency of operations". This action includes upgrading the Wi-Fi network in all buildings, significantly increasing capacity in classrooms, and expanding the coverage of outdoor Wi-Fi zones.
The project was completed in August 2024, just in time for the start of the academic year and the basketball season. The university hopes that the improved Wi-Fi and cellular service in Kaplan will enhance the experience of students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors who attend events in the arena.
