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Enhancing the educational experience in the White Plains School District
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - Ethernet
- Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Industries
- Education
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
Use Cases
- Campus Area Network
- Infrastructure Inspection
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
The White Plains School District, serving over 7,000 students and employing more than 1,100 staff members, was facing a challenge with its outdated copper network. The district's local area network (LAN) was crucial in supporting a variety of technologies used in schools, from tablets and PCs to projectors and HVAC systems. However, the district was struggling with the need for a robust, reliable network infrastructure that could provide the bandwidth for these technologies plus a growing number of devices and applications. The district wanted to enhance its wifi network to improve mobile connectivity. But before doing so, the MIS group needed to refresh or replace the LAN. Upgrading the existing copper-based network was going to be too costly, and the district needed a new approach that could deliver scalability, reliability, and security while avoiding the high costs of a copper upgrade.
About The Customer
The White Plains School District is a suburban community located north of New York City. The district serves more than 7,000 students and employs more than 1,100 staff members. The district's Management and Information Systems (MIS) group supports over 4,000 networked devices across the district's nine schools and three office locations. The district's local area network (LAN) plays a crucial role in supporting the variety of technologies used in schools, including tablets, PCs, projectors, and HVAC systems. The district was looking to enhance its wifi network to improve mobile connectivity and needed to refresh or replace the LAN.
The Solution
The district turned to IBM Global Technology Services (GTS) to design a new network based on Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology. GPON technology offers several advantages over upgrading a copper-based LAN. It uses less equipment than a copper network, reducing installation costs and avoiding expenditures for switching, cooling, and battery equipment. Using fiber also gives better flexibility and scalability. Making changes or increasing bandwidth does not require replacing fiber, just changing the equipment at either end. The IBM GTS team led the district through each phase of the project, including connecting with the right vendors, designing the network, and setting up a proof of concept in a high school classroom. This new technology was new to the district, so having an experienced, knowledgeable team to help oversee the project was critical.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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