Wireless Internet access spreads across campus
by Byron Kho
The Daily Pennsylvanian
September 2, 2004
Though Penn is still far from being an "unwired campus," it has been making significant efforts to improve and extend wireless Internet service to students.
Alongside general improvements and construction around campus this summer, Penn's Information Systems and Computing office has extended wireless access within Van Pelt Library and the ARCH Building, as well as inside the Graduate School of Education building, the library of the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Furness Library and the Mellon Bank Building. Icons specifying wireless availability have been added to the silver signs identifying each building.
Additionally, wireless access is now available in areas of the high rises, Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, the Graduate Student Center, Huntsman Hall, Kelly Writers House, most School of Engineering and Applied Science buildings and, most recently, a large seamless area covering College Green, Houston Hall, Wynn Commons and Van Pelt. Maps of wireless coverage sites are available on the Penn Web site.
Robin Beck, vice president of ISC, noted that "there is no guarantee that service will be perfect," referring to varying qualities of service in different locations.
She added, "We're constantly trying to make wireless access as seamless as possible. The idea of mobility is important from a student perspective, and it's becoming more and more so for us."
Beck cited the complex factors governing signal quality and placement of access points. Availability of direct lines of sight can be an issue, as wireless access relies on radio signals for communication between the user's computer and the wireless local area network.
Currently, wireless access through PennNet, the University's data network, is available for free to students using a PennKey and a wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, card. The University has been phasing out use of a computer's unique machine identification number in favor of the PennKey, which allows secure authentication of the user rather than the device.
"We're looking for consistency in authentication," Beck said.
"We have increased our efforts to ensure that there is the same security available for wireless networks as there are on wired networks."
However, Beck stressed that the University sees wireless as an augmentation of the wired network.
"After all, the wireless network still has to hook into a wired hub somewhere," she said.
Recent construction on campus does not include wireless installation.
According to Mark Wilson, managing director of design and construction for Penn Facilities & Real Estate Services, "Generally, each building is wireless-specific to the end user of the building, and not by construction."
However, ISC is in the planning stages for wireless access in Pottruck Health and Fitness Center and Stouffer College House, as well as the Psychology Building.
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