From schools to universities, educational institutions are hotbeds for ideas and innovation. They possess an insatiable need for connectivity across the campus. From labs to classroom equipment, video creation and staff communication to sports arenas, there are a growing list of demands on the networks at these facilities. Today, higher educational institutions have traditional Wi-Fi networks to supplement fixed Ethernet infrastructure. However, these connectivity methods often fall short of key criteria such as dependability, security, performance, coverage, capacity, and mobility.

In a recent study conducted by Morning Consult in collaboration with Nokia and Verizon, it was found that for educational institutions, communication with staff and students is cited as an essential commodity (cited by 53 percent) alongside the enabling of more smart devices on the campus (cited by 50 percent). It was noted that these educational institutions focus on their students, with an eye on improvements to security, access, and speed.

Further accelerated by the pandemic, academic campuses across the globe have various IT needs which require a holistic view of connectivity in order to deliver seamless performance.  A recent survey of enterprises including educational institutions cited a major network upgrade in the last two to four years – resulting from the global pandemic, accelerated digitalization, and the need for modernization of the network. Fixed connections and Wi-Fi alone won’t be enough to meet the demand. The latest generation of private 5G networks, with fast speeds, low latency, and superior security is necessary. A whopping 94 percent of respondents feel confident there’d be a role for private wireless networks in the future of their academic enterprise.

Private 5G networks are part of the overarching connectivity solutions for educational organizations. There are indirect cost savings to choosing such a model—for example, public LTE is needed for connectivity outside the campus for remote classes. A private wireless network gives complete control over the creation and management of multi-local networks, with the added benefits of low latency, strong security, and the ability to scale as needed.

Verizon’s private wireless network solution, based on Nokia’s leading-edge Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), and fixed wireless access (FWA) provides fast, affordable broadband connectivity to schools and communities. Combining Wi-Fi in the school and students’ homes to connect laptops and tablets, connected to the reliable performance and security of a Verizon private wireless network powered by Nokia DAC enables quick and cost-effective provisioning of pervasive broadband to educational institutions.

As higher education works out what life will be like after the COVID-19 pandemic, every institution from kindergarten through university is in a different stage of bringing students back to campus. Whether students have fully returned to the classroom or are on a permanent hybrid model, one thing will be consistent—everyone, from students to faculty, will expect consistent, reliable connectivity. To stay competitive, educational facilities need to leverage private 5G network that enables robust, secure, and high-speed connectivity across the campus.