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High-Density Wi-Fi Project

Quicklink(s)

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is starting on a multi-year journey to build out a faster, more secure Wi-Fi network across UCI to enable and support our students and faculty. 

Online instruction has transformed the way we teach and learn.   This change demands that our campus becomes more connected than ever. In August 2022, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) started on a multi-year journey to build out faster, more secure Wi-Fi across UCI to enable and support our students and faculty. 

Why is this happening?

Many buildings on campus are not adequately equipped to provide Wi-Fi connectivity fast enough for today’s online demands. As a result, there are several areas of campus with slow or unstable connections. Over the next five years, OIT plans to upgrade 347 floors across 129 buildings, providing a reliable, consistent, high-speed user experience.

What to expect

Upgrades will happen in phases.  OIT, working in partnership with school IT directors, is targeting those buildings and floors where the existing Wi-Fi experience causes the most frustration for faculty, students, and researchers. Additional communications and physical signs will be provided for each building before and during installation. 

Check the Timeline tab to see the schedule. See which buildings are being worked on, which ones have been completed, and what’s next.

This campus Wi-Fi project is a strategic IT investment for UCI.  OIT intends to minimize interruptions to campus operations and communicate well in advance when disruption is required.  Now more than ever, it’s important to stay connected. 

Goals

  • Improve Wi-Fi connectivity on campus
  • Provide a reliable, consistent, high-speed user experience

Deliverables

  • Recable the campus buildings to handle high-speed network connections with low signal loss.
  • Add more Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) in strategic locations on campus prioritizing academic buildings with the lowest-quality Wi-Fi
  • Upgrade 347 floors across 129 buildings on campus

Wi-Fi Construction Schedule

  • Facilities Management is working on the construction infrastructure to support this project.
  • OIT is re-cabling the campus buildings to handle high-speed network connections and installing new Wi-Fi access points.

See which buildings are getting updated next.

(Scroll horizontally if needed to see the full table.)

StatusBuilding NameFloorConstr. StartConstr. EndWi-Fi Activation StartWi-Fi Activation End

Completed
Langson Library23-Apr14-Apr17-Apr28-Apr

Completed
Social Ecology 223-Apr14-Apr17-Apr28-Apr

Completed
Cross Cultural Center13-Apr14-Apr17-Apr28-Apr

Completed
Cross Cultural Center23-Apr14-Apr17-Apr28-Apr

Completed
Langson Library317-Apr5-May8-May19-May

Completed
Langson Library117-Apr5-May8-May19-May

Completed
Langson Library417-Apr5-May8-May19-May

Completed
Langson LibraryB17-Apr5-May8-May19-May

Completed
Social Ecology 2117-Apr5-May8-May19-May

Completed
Social Ecology 2317-Apr5-May8-May19-May

Completed
McGaugh Hall18-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
McGaugh Hall28-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
McGaugh Hall48-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
Social Science Laboratory28-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
Social Science Laboratory18-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
Social Science Tower48-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
Social Science Tower18-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
Social Science Trailer18-May26-May29-May9-Jun

Completed
Medical Sciences E129-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun

Completed
Education Building229-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun

Completed
Education Building129-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun

Completed
Education Building329-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun

Completed
Social Ecology I129-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun

Completed
Social Ecology I329-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun
On HoldSocial Ecology I229-May16-Jun19-Jun30-Jun

Completed
Parkview Classroom Building PCB 110016-Jun23-Jun16-Jun23-Jun

Completed
Donald Bren Hall DBH 10016-Jun23-Jun16-Jun23-Jun

Completed
Engineering Hall EH 120016-Jun23-Jun16-Jun23-Jun

Completed
Engineering Lecture Hall ELH 10024-Jun14-Jul17-Jul4-Aug

Completed
Physical Sciences Lecture HallPSLH26-Jun14-Jul17-Jul4-Aug

Completed
Social Sciences Lecture HallSSLH 10026-Jun14-Jul17-Jul4-Aug

Completed
Howard Schneiderman Lecture HallHSLH 10026-Jun14-Jul17-Jul4-Aug

Completed
Engineering Tower210-Jul4-Aug9-Aug20-Aug

Completed
Engineering Tower310-Jul4-Aug9-Aug20-Aug

Completed
Rowland Hall210-Jul4-Aug9-Aug20-Aug

Completed
Rowland Hall510-Jul4-Aug9-Aug20-Aug

Completed
Rowland Hall110-Jul4-Aug9-Aug20-Aug

Completed
Fredrick Reines Hall110-Jul4-Aug9-Aug20-Aug

Completed
Biological Sciences 3 Lecture HallBS3 12004-Aug25-Aug4-Aug25-Aug

Completed
Humanities Instructional BuildingHIB 1004-Aug25-Aug4-Aug25-Aug

Completed
Anteater Learning Pavilion LH 1 ALP 130021-Aug8-Sep21-Aug8-Sep

Completed
Humanities Hall128-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Humanities Hall228-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Humanities Instructional Building128-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Humanities Instructional Building228-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Disability Services Center (4 weeks)128-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Langson Library528-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Bonney Research Laboratory 128-Aug14-Sep17-Sep28-Sep

Completed
Social Sciences Hall SSH14-Sep22-Sep14-Sep22-Sep

Completed
Social Science Plaza A (SSPA) SSPA 110014-Sep22-Sep14-Sep22-Sep

Completed
Anteater Learning Pavilion LH 2ALP 230014-Sep22-Sep14-Sep22-Sep

Completed
Aldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PM111-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct

Completed
Aldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PM211-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct
In ProgressAldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PM311-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct

Completed
Aldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PM411-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct

Completed
Aldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PM511-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct

Completed
Aldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PM611-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct

Completed
Aldrich Hall NIGHT 5:00 PMB11-Sep6-Oct9-Oct20-Oct

Completed
Information and Computer Science420-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Information and Computer Science 120-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Information and Computer Science320-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Information and Computer Science 2120-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec
In Progress
Completed
Information and Computer Science 2220-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
William J, Gillespie Performance Studios130-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Science Library DAY230-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Science Library430-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Gateway Study Center230-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Art Studio130-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Music and Media Building330-Oct17-Nov20-Nov10-Dec

Completed
Steinhaus Hall120-Nov8-Dec11-Dec31-Dec

Completed
Steinhaus Hall220-Nov8-Dec11-Dec22-Dec

Completed
Steinhaus Hall320-Nov8-Dec11-Dec22-Dec

Completed
Hewitt Research Hall220-Nov8-Dec11-Dec22-Dec

Completed
Bison Modular120-Nov8-Dec11-Dec22-Dec

Completed
Irvine Hall120-Nov8-Dec11-Dec22-Dec

Completed
Merage School of Business111-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Merage School of Business211-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Merage School of Business411-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Merage School of Business 2111-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Robert Cohen Theatre and Dance Studio111-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Beall Center for Art and Technology111-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Public Services Building111-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Multipurpose Academic and Admin Bldg211-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Multipurpose Academic and Admin Bldg311-Dec29-Dec1-Jan12-Jan

Completed
Multipurpose Science and Tech Bldg11-Jan19-Jan22-Jan2-Feb

Completed
Multipurpose Science and Tech Bldg21-Jan19-Jan22-Jan2-Feb

Completed
Winifred Smith Hall11-Jan19-Jan22-Jan2-Feb

Completed
Crawford Hall11-Jan19-Jan22-Jan2-Feb

Completed
Natural Sciences Unit 211-Jan19-Jan22-Jan2-Feb

Completed
Natural Sciences Unit 241-Jan19-Jan22-Jan2-Feb

Key

 

Completed
In Progress
On Hold

Project Status

  • Percentage Complete 59% 59%

Project Phase

Executing

Communities Affected

  • UCI Campus
  • College of Health Sciences

Start Date

August 2022

Estimated Completion Date

Fall 2027

Key Stakeholders

  • Client: Campus Wi-Fi Users
  • Sponsor: Henry Jenkins
  • Co-Sponsor: Stacey Rose
  • Project Manager: Daniel Galvan

Client Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Hidden toggle

Hide the first one.

How does this project solve problems with UCI's Wi-Fi experience?

At the heart of today’s inconsistent Wi-Fi experience is a lack of Wi-Fi access points (APs).  APs talk to wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, very similar to how cell towers and cell phones work.  They also have similar problems. 

The first problem is when there isn’t enough coverage, a mobile device can’t get a signal and thus can’t talk to the network.   The second is that as more people carry more devices, all trying to talk to APs at higher speeds, the APs get overwhelmed and underperform or stop listening for new connections.  This is similar to what happens when too many cell phones try talking to a single cell tower. 

In both cases, the answer is more access points that can handle more connections at higher speeds.

Which buildings are being upgraded and when?

The priority will be academic buildings with the lowest quality Wi-Fi.  OIT is working with school IT directors to prioritize floors in each of those buildings. 

Upgrades are underway! Check the Timeline tab above to see the progress.

This map shows the quality of Wi-Fi on campus in the Fall of 2022.

Map of quality of Wi-Fi on Campus

How long will each upgrade take?

There is no black-and-white answer to this question.  Upgrades involve not just new access points, but also new network cables, new network switches, and possibly network closet upgrades on every floor. 

A network closet (also called an “intermediate distribution frame” or IDF) is where all the network cables and electrical power are located.  The limiting factor that drives the timeline will be whether or not the existing network closet requires more space to fit new equipment and cables.  The more construction is required, the longer the upgrade will take.



Updated on
June 25, 2024