Capability Concerns

“The world is going wireless and that means an ever-increasing demand on wireless bandwidth” (University Of Phoenix Information Systems And Technology Articles, 2006-2012, para. 1).

“There is a distinction between wireless bandwidth and Internet bandwidth because they are really two separate systems that are tied together” (University Of Phoenix Information Systems and Technology Articles, 2006-2012, para. 2). 

 Understanding the basics on bandwidth helps to comprehend the issue University of Phoenix faced and how they could address these issues.

In 2011, Apollo Group Inc., the parent company of University of Phoenix, took on a business challenge of providing a state-of-the art online learning environment, a reduction of wireless network downtime and slowdowns, and protection against security threats (Cisco Borderless Network, 2011).“Our learning centers are a vital resource for our students,” says Dennis Crowe, director of network engineering, Apollo Group.  “We want these centers to be the ideal educational environment.  Everything should be available: Internet research, email, collaboration, video, class content, etc.  We also need to ensure that these facilities are secure, so that everyone’s assets are safe” (Cisco Borderless Network, 2011, Business Challenge).  This goal seemed to be far-fetched,  Apollo Group Inc. supports a diverse classroom environment with programs ranging from associate-level to doctorate-level, online classrooms functioning 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and larger ground campuses with up to 35 classrooms that require wireless Internet connection and HD media support. However, Apollo Group Inc. addressed this concern of by shifting from “more than 3000 wireless access points and 200 different distributed controller systems from multiple vendors” (D. Crowe, 2011, Business Challenge), to a solution that required a network upgrade and reducing to a single vendor, Cisco, that would only require 20 Cisco wireless controllers (Cisco Borderless Network, 2011).

“When students come to our campuses, they expect an outstanding learning environment,” says Crowe.  “We owe it to them to provide reliable and steady network service, wherever they need it and however they choose to access it.  The Cisco network has really helped us get there” (Cisco Borderless Network, 2011, Business Results).

As one could see, Apollo Group Inc. – University of Phoenix will continue their journey to improve the classroom environment and address the concerns of bandwidth and implementing web 2.0 tools.

References

Cisco Borderless Network. (2011). National Higher Learning Institution Builds Campuses of theFuture. Retrieved from http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps5678/ps10981/case_study_c36-658655.pdf

University of Phoenix Information Systems and Technology Articles. (2006-2012). Retrieved

fromhttp://www.phoenix.edu/colleges_divisions/technology/articles/2011/04/wireless-infrastructure-can-our-current-system-handle-bandwidth-demands.html