Challenge

Blava.net is a non-profit networking and technology organization based in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Blava.net partnered with Druzba dormitory at Comenius University with the goal of providing free wireless Internet access to University students.

To achieve this goal, the Blava.net team needed a scalable network solution that would support high user load with relatively little infrastructure and administrative oversight.

Solution

Druzba dormitory goes wireless with Meraki

The Blava.net networking team deployed a Meraki Mesh Network, which is now available to any of the 2600 occupants in Druzba dormitory with a laptop computer. The network topology includes a long distance wireless link to a fiber connection, which serves as the network’s single Internet connection. Blava.net plans to expand the network to include even more students by installing additional Minis throughout the premises.

High User Load

The Meraki Mesh Network continues to out-performed the original requirements set forth by the Blava.net networking team. Originally, Blava.net believed the network would need to reliably host 70 to 80 users at a time. The Meraki Mesh Network actually handles an average of 150 users and 3.5 gigabytes of traffic per day.

Network Management

Dashboard, our web-hosted network management system, allows the Blava.net team to maintain the network from remote locations, rather than having to come on site each time the network needs updating or maintenance. Network alerts also give real-time status reports in the event of a problem. Finally, detailed network usage statistics help the Blava.net team understand how and where to expand the network to be more effective.

Scalability

The Blava.net team will have no problem expanding the Druzba Network to reach more students. Coverage can be expanded simply by plugging in new Meraki Minis wherever network service is desired. The Blava.net team also plans to increase the number of wired Internet connections on the network, which the Meraki Mesh will automatically detect and utilize as soon as they become available.

Results

Meraki has proven to be a valuable network solution for the small deployment at Druzba dormitory. Students with laptops can connect to the Internet reliably, the Blava.net team can maintain the network remotely, and Druzba can expand the network in the future. Together, Blava.net, Druzba, and Meraki have been able to provide alternative free high speed Internet access to University students for a fraction of the total cost of any other wireless solution on the market.