A campus-wide managed Internet service at the University of Lincoln

The University of Lincoln took lease of The Gateway, a purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) building located on the edge of campus, which was being supplied with ASK4’s managed Internet service.  The University felt that the service was exceptional and recognised ASK4's ability to offer more than just reliable connectivity, such as 24/7/365 multilingual support, enhanced services enabled by 4Network, and a fully managed solution.

They subsequently sought to enhance their student accommodation experience by upgrading the Internet service provision across both on-campus and off-campus residences, releasing a formal tender to accommodate this. In June 2022, ASK4 was successful with the tender and was awarded a 5-year contract to deliver a fully managed Internet service across the University’s halls of residence and six off-campus accommodation buildings, covering a total of 4,410 bed spaces.

Project Requirements

The University of Lincoln needed a trusted partner to:

• Seamlessly transition from the incumbent provider without disrupting student experience.
• Provide high-performance connectivity for students, staff, and guests across multiple sites.
• Deliver a fully managed solution with around-the-clock support and features that enable student living, like 4Network.
• Minimise downtime during installation, especially considering summer occupancy.

The ASK4 Solution

ASK4 implemented a tailored solution to meet the University of Lincoln's needs:

• Rapid deployment: Orders were placed promptly to ensure on-time delivery, with installation carried out on a short lead time.
• Seamless transition: Services were installed in parallel with the University and the incumbent provider, ensuring minimal downtime for students.
• Comprehensive coverage: Fully managed Internet service across on-campus halls and six off-campus accommodation buildings.
• Enhanced student experience: Introduction of services like 4Network for seamless private networking across devices and 24/7/365 multilingual support, giving students a high level of customer service.
• Future-proofed infrastructure: The University of Lincoln now have the infrastructure they need to meet evolving technological demands for the foreseeable future, with ASK4 on hand to advise and support where needed.
• Resilient connectivity: The service is supported by back up lines , meaning that in the event of a failure, the chance of residents’ experiencing loss of service is significantly reduced.

Addressing challenges

The primary challenge was ensuring a smooth transition during a tight timeline while accommodating summer occupancy. ASK4 addressed this by:

• Collaborative planning: Close coordination with the University to align installation phases with occupancy schedules.
• Parallel installation: Running new infrastructure alongside the incumbent service reduced downtime and ensured continuity.
• Agility and responsiveness: The ASK4 team adapted quickly to any site-specific needs, ensuring successful and timely delivery.

Testimonials

"ASK4’s expertise and efficiency made the transition from our previous Internet provider seamless. Their ability to deliver a fully managed Internet service with minimal disruption, even during summer occupancy, was impressive. Our students now benefit from a faster, more reliable connection and around-the-clock support, enhancing their experience both academically and socially." – Wayne Gathergood, Head of Digital Infrastructure, University of Lincoln

"It’s been a pleasure working with the University of Lincoln to provide a future-proofed connectivity solution that meets the needs of students, staff, and guests alike. The project’s success was down to careful planning and collaboration, ensuring a smooth transition and delivering a service that will support the university’s ambitions for years to come." – Kerry Mattock, Sales Director - UK, ASK4

ASK4's ability to deliver a smooth, disruption-free transition and enhance student connectivity highlights our expertise in large-scale managed Internet service delivery. The University of Lincoln now benefits from a robust, fully managed solution that improves student satisfaction and operational efficiency.

For more information on ASK4’s intelligent solutions or to book an appointment with a member of our team about an upcoming project, visit our contact page here.