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Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Wireless Service Renewal and Expansion

Introduction

Since the 2007-2008 academic year, increasing use of smartphones and laptops on campus has resulted in dramatically increased demand for wireless services. Even where wireless service had been provided to cover high-use areas like the Library and TRSM, at times (especially in the Winter 2012 term), the number of devices has overwhelmed the available access points(radios). Some access point models are only able to handle roughly 30 wireless connections at a time but may receive over 100 concurrent connection requests. In response, CCS has been increasing the number of wireless access points across campus and is replacing older models with newer and more capable ones. This page provides information on TMU's expanding wireless network as well as some background information on wireless use on campus.

Wireless Expansion and Renewal

The following table shows a total number of wireless access points at the end of a particular period available to campus starting prior to March 2012.

Total number of access points

Time Total Access Points
End of February 2012 1115
End of Summer 2013 1493
End of Fall 2013 1603
End of April 2014 1619
End of Summer 2014 1757
End of 2014 1770
End of October 2015 2103
End of February 2016 2133
End of August 2016 2269
End of December 2016 3046
End of July 2017 3090
End of September 2017 3197
End of March 2018 3222
End of June 2018
3473
End of January 2020 4546
End of August 2020 4616
End of August 2021
4751
End of August 2022
4525
End of August 2023
4495

*During the Fall 2013 term, CCS undertook a major network infrastructure upgrade in TRS that includes replacing wireless access points with new series 220 access points. The new devices can support more connections and provide greater bandwidth - especially in high demand areas.

Access Point Upgrades

TMU began installing the Aruba Networks 60 series access points in 2004 and has since moved to installing series 130 access points in low-to-medium demand areas and series 220 access points in higher demand areas. The following table provides a rough comparison between the different types of access points.

Access point model capacity

Model                635 Series 535 Series 325 Series                           220 Series 130 Series 100 Series
Max Connections 1024 per radio 512 per radio 200 100 70 30
Max Shared Bandwidth Available 3.9 Gbps 2.97 Gbps 1.3 Gbps 950 Mbps 450 Mbps 300 Mbps
Standard a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WIFI 6E) a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WIFI 6)            
a/b/g/n/ac a/b/g/n/ac
a/b/g/n a/b/g/n

Note: the actual number of connections and bandwidth available on an access point will vary depending on factors like distance to the access point, radio interference, and bandwidth demands from each wireless device.

Even under near ideal circumstances wireless bandwidth is normally shared between many devices and is rarely as good as a wired connection. If you have access to a wired connection in an office or classroom podium, CCS strongly recommends you use the wired connection for the best possible reliability and performance.

Increasing Demand for Wireless

The following table shows the year-by-year increase in the peak number of wireless devices simultaneously connected to TMU's wireless network.

Peak of wireless devices simultaneously connected

Year             Peak Daily Wifi Connections                    
2008 - 2009 2,500
2009 - 2010 4,500
2010 - 2011
6,000
2011 - 2012 7,000
2012 - 2013 9,200
2013 - 2014 9,636
2014 - 2015 15,000
2015 - 2016 25,947
2016 - 2017 32,500
2017 - 2018 32,732
2018 - 2019 33,772
2019 - 2020 37,212
2022 - 2023 27,061
2023 - 2024 30,986

The following graphs show the change from Fall 2011 to Fall 2023 in terms of the types of and numbers of devices connected to TMU’s wireless network. Click the image to enlarge.