Purpose

This standard establishes the university’s network connectivity strategy, prioritizing a Wi-Fi-first approach while defining the appropriate use of wired connections. It also outlines responsibilities for managing primary and redundant connectivity at remote locations, ensuring consistent, reliable, and efficient network services across all facilities.

Scope

This standard applies to all university buildings, campuses, and remote locations.

Standard

Wi-Fi First Approach

OHIO employs a Wi-Fi-first strategy for network access to emphasize wireless connectivity across all facilities. This approach promotes mobility, flexibility, and ease of access for staff, students, and visitors while delivering high-performance, cost effective, and reliable coverage. Wired connections are reserved for scenarios where Wi-Fi cannot meet specific requirements, such as regulatory compliance or security needs.

Wireless Network

Wireless Network Access (Wi-Fi) Policy

Wi-Fi is the primary way for faculty, staff, students, and guests to connect to the internet across all university campuses. Our modern wireless network provides reliable coverage in campus buildings and many outdoor areas. It supports a wide range of devices and operates on standard Wi-Fi frequencies for a strong and stable connection. This service is available in all network-enabled facilities and designated outdoor spaces.

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides installation and maintenance of wireless services and the supporting network infrastructure at no additional cost to individual users.

Costs associated with the installation of new wireless infrastructure or the removal and reinstallation of services due to capital projects—such as new building construction or major renovations—will be charged to the capital project. These charges will follow standardized time and materials costs. All installations will adhere to OIT's established standards and practices.

Instructions for accessing the wireless network can be found in the Knowledge Base article, Getting Started with Wi-Fi (ohio.edu).

Wired Network

Wired network access is an option that should only be used when Wi-Fi is not suitable.  Some examples are:

• Regulatory Compliance: HIPAA, FERPA, PCI requirements.
• Security: Systems like surveillance cameras, door access controls, and environmental controls that require hard-wired connections for security.

To submit a request for a wired network connection, please submit a help ticket.

If an existing jack at the location can support the requested network connection, OIT will configure the network port and establish the physical connection in the IT closets at no cost to the requester.

If a new jack is required or repairs are needed, OIT will coordinate with Facilities Management for installation or repair. Any charges incurred for new cabling or jack installations will be billed to the requester. Similarly, repair costs for cables or jacks located within user spaces will be passed on to the requester. 

To optimize costs for the University, OIT may relocate or repurpose network connections that have remained unused for a year prior to the request. Additionally, unused ports may be disconnected during network equipment upgrades.

Costs associated with the installation of new network infrastructure or the relocation and reinstallation of existing infrastructure as part of capital projects—such as new building construction or major renovations—will be billed to the respective capital project. All installations will adhere to OIT's established standards and practices.

Primary and Redundant Connectivity

Network Connectivity for Regional Campuses and Remote Locations

OIT provides primary network connectivity and optional redundant connectivity to all regional campuses and remote locations, ensuring robust internet access and network services that meet defined performance metrics, such as minimum bandwidth and uptime standards. OIT handles the procurement and management of this service, with the requesting department or location responsible for its funding.

Definitions

Wi-Fi-First Strategy: A network design strategy that prioritizes wireless connectivity for all users, limiting the use of wired connections to specific cases where Wi-Fi is insufficient.

Primary Connectivity: The main network connection provided to a location, which ensures basic access to network services and the internet.

Redundant Connectivity: A backup or secondary network connection that provides an alternate path for network traffic in case the primary connection fails.

Remote Site: A university facility that is not contiguous to the main campus and cannot be connected directly to the main campus network without crossing public rights of way. These locations rely on commercial service providers for connectivity to the university's network.

Wired Network: The wired network provides hard-wired jacks to connect customers to the OHIO network and the internet. Wired network connections will be provisioned to provide connection speeds up to 1 Gbps.

Wireless Network: Wireless networking refers to Wi-Fi infrastructure.  The OHIO Wi-Fi network employs two wireless networks: Eduroam and Ohio University Guest.

Eduroam: Eduroam is a global wireless network access service that allows students, researchers, and staff from participating institutions to obtain internet connectivity across campus and when visiting other participating institutions by simply using their home institution’s credentials. It provides encrypted, WPA2 Enterprise authenticated access with unrestricted bandwidth to all customers with active OHIO IDs.  Learn more about Eduroam at https://www.eduroam.org/.

OHIO University Guest: "OHIO University Guest" wireless will provide isolated, unencrypted, unauthenticated access to the internet at limited bandwidth for any device with a web browser. The guest wireless is designed to provide bandwidth sufficient to stream high-definition video.