A managed Internet services transition and upgrade for The University of Essex

In April 2021, ASK4 was awarded the contract to provide managed Internet services for the University of Essex’s student accommodation across its Colchester and Southend campuses. The takeover from the incumbent provider was scheduled ahead of the new academic year in September, requiring a seamless transition to avoid any disruption for residents.

ASK4 successfully met the University’s needs, delivering a fully managed, high-performance connectivity solution while navigating logistical and compliance challenges related to the ongoing pandemic. 

Project requirements

The University of Essex sought a new provider capable of delivering:

• A seamless transition of 3,248 rooms across two campuses 
• A robust and future-proof network with high-speed, resilient connectivity 
• Minimal service interruption during the contract transition 
• Compliance with pandemic-related regulations and safety measures 

ASK4 implemented a carefully planned transition and upgrade strategy, ensuring that services were live well ahead of the deadline. Key elements of the solution included: 

• A 6-week installation programme with six installation teams working in parallel.
• Use of plant machinery to install high-level cabling and WiFi access points efficiently
• Deployment of a new resilient 10G WAN topology, ensuring high-capacity, uninterrupted service
• Procurement and installation of 1,850 WiFi 6 access points and 140 network switches, despite global chipset shortages
• Coordinated transition with the incumbent provider to ensure a smooth and disruption-free service handover

Overcoming challenges

The project faced several key challenges, including:

• Time-sensitive transition – ASK4 efficiently managed a structured rollout, completing the transition ahead of schedule
• Legislation and compliance during the pandemic – All installation work adhered to strict health and safety protocols
• Global chipset shortages – During a period of widespread supply chain disruptions, ASK4 successfully procured all necessary hardware on time

Despite these hurdles, through meticulous planning and execution, ASK4 ensured a successful, disruption-free service transition for students and university staff.

Results and impact

The University of Essex now benefits from a high-performance, resilient managed network: 

• Seamless transition of services, meeting the project deadline with zero downtime for residents 
• Faster, more reliable connectivity powered by a 10G WAN topology 
• Enhanced student experience through upgraded WiFi 6 access points and network infrastructure 
• Future-proofed service with ongoing support and scalability for evolving connectivity needs 
• Sucessful collaboration on the rollout of a Zigbee dorr access system across the site 

Improved resident satisfaction

National Student Housing Survey results indicated an increase in positive customer satisfaction ratings with the residential Internet service approval score improving from an average of 51.6% to 75%. This is a significant improvement which also resulted in the University of Essex being 3% above the national average, and 7% above our comparator group. 

Testimonials

"Ensuring our students have access to fast, reliable Internet is a key part of enabling our students to live and study, and in helping us to deliver a great accommodation experience. ASK4’s expertise and seamless transition process meant we were able to upgrade our services without disruption, and the quality of the service has resulted in much higher resident satisfaction. Their proactive approach and technical capabilities have significantly enhanced connectivity across both our Colchester and Southend campuses." – Darren Baker, Chief Compliance Officer, Infrastructure & Environments, The University of Essex
 
"Transitioning a network of this scale within a tight timeframe required careful planning and execution, and we’re immensely proud of the outcome. Working closely with the University of Essex and the incumbent provider, we ensured a smooth handover and a future-proof solution that delivers the speed, resilience, and reliability that students expect. We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting the university’s evolving connectivity needs." – Kerry Mattock, Sales Director - UK, ASK4

ASK4 remains committed to supporting the University of Essex, ensuring continued service excellence and proactive network management. Future enhancements will focus on optimising the network for emerging student connectivity demands and exploring additional service improvements. The project showcases ASK4’s expertise in delivering large-scale, high-performance Internet service transitions with minimal disruption. By overcoming logistical, regulatory, and supply chain challenges, ASK4 successfully provided the University of Essex with a resilient, future-proof connectivity solution. 
 
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For more information on ASK4’s intelligent solutions or to talk about an upcoming project, you can book an appointment with an experienced member of our team here.