Measuring true wired and Wi-Fi network needs

Key points:

There is no doubt that educational institutions require high-speed, reliable connectivity. On that we all agree. The question that arises is: How fast is enough?

There are a number of misconceptions surrounding the answer. Let's demystify these one by one. Then we can talk about how to accurately measure and predict the needs of each network.

First misconception: faster is always better

Here's the truth: Faster network speeds are often neither necessary nor cost-effective. While our Wi-Fi standards offer incredibly fast speeds (1.3 Gbps for Wi-Fi 5 and 9.6 Gbps for Wi-Fi6 and 6E), these speeds are a maximum theoretical speed. They are not intended for everyday, real-world use in all schools.

This is more than fine because individual users don't need those speeds. Real world situations don't need those speeds. Even video streaming apps that use 4K resolution only have recommended speeds of 15 Mbps or higher. Wi-Fi 5's 1.3 Gbps is equivalent to 1300 Mbps.

So why do Wi-Fi standards continue to evolve to offer faster speeds? This is because our networks are becoming more and more congested. The maximum speed (upload and download) offered by your network plan is shared between all devices. The faster devices can communicate, the faster they'll get off the airwaves and let another device take its place.

No single device or app needs 1.3 Gbps, but sharing that speed across 1,000 devices makes a difference. That's why it's important to know how many devices you have, how many of them are used at the same time, and what maximum speeds are recommended for optimal use. This will help you determine the upload and download speeds needed on your network.

One last tip: often when it comes to high speed requirements, people mention AR and VR applications. It is true that sometimes these devices, depending on their use, have requirements of 200 and even 5,000 Mbps. However, schools are not inundated with these applications at this time.

Second misconception: bigger is always better

Bandwidth is a measure of your network's capacity. Each device that connects occupies a portion of that bandwidth. If you have more devices than your bandwidth can support, you will have problems. These may include:

• Problems accessing the network
• Poor app performance

Because of this, when network performance is slow, it is common for people to assume that the problem is a lack of bandwidth. However, this is not always the case. There may be other root causes for these performance issues. Investing in more bandwidth when you don't need it will lead you to wasting money on an upgrade that doesn't bring a positive ROI.

What do you do for a living? First, you need an accurate understanding of your bandwidth needs. Your service provider can help you with this. The recommendation is usually 1 to 2 Mbps of bandwidth per user.

Next, you need a way to analyze network performance and identify the root cause of problems. This will immediately tell you if bandwidth is an issue or if you have another problem. There are several tools and solutions on the market that can help.

Third misconception: one size fits all

Every educational institution needs wired and Wi-Fi networks, but not all need the exact same network. Network needs differ based on several factors, including but not limited to school size, curriculum focus (do students typically stream videos?), and student-to-device ratio.

Schools need constant real-time analytics and long-term performance trends to understand the user experience. Is good or bad? It could be better? Detailed analyzes provide the information each school needs to make efficient and cost-effective network decisions.

Tips for Accurately Gauging Your School's Network Needs

Perform a comprehensive network assessment

You need to know what your situation is before you can make useful plans. Take three months to evaluate current network usage and performance. Work with a tool that automatically captures end-user experience metrics during that time to know if your network is meeting the needs of your staff and students.

Once you have the data, determine if performance is consistently optimal. If not, is the problem a lack of speed or bandwidth?

Consider peak usage hours

The reason I suggest collecting network analytics for three months is to provide an accurate representation of network performance during downtime and peak utilization. Depending on your institution, peak times may be during exams, lectures, or even sporting events.

While peak usage may occur only three or four times a year, you should know that your network speed is sufficient for those times, and not just for daily use.

Plan for future growth

All networks must be scalable and future-proof.

Your network capabilities may optimally support your users today, but if you plan to increase the student population or the number or types of devices and applications on the network in a few years, it's time to dig deeper.

What impact will that have on performance? Does your network have the available bandwidth and speed to support it?

Preparation for the future within a budget It is impossible without detailed analysis. Network upgrades are not cheap. You want to update incrementally, only when necessary, to meet specific needs. With the right data, you'll know what your problems are, what aren't, and how to solve them and avoid them in the future.

Listen to your network

There is a time and place for incredibly fast, high-speed networks. There are also many times and places for slower speeds. Review the metrics and numbers available on your network and let it tell you what you need. This way you can increase performance and user satisfaction while saving money.