Kantonsschule Zug Implements Future-Ready WiFi 7 Solution from Huawei
Kantonsschule Zug (KSZ) is the largest secondary school in the canton of Zug, with around 1,600 students and more than 200 teachers. Spanning approximately 65,000 square meters, the school offers the Swiss Federal Maturity Certificate as well as commercial vocational education with a broad selection of subjects. The IT team at Kantonsschule Zug manages networks not only at the Zug campus but also at the Menzingen and Rotkreuz gymnasiums. Together with the IT team from GIBZ they also support the vocational school.
Compatibility Across a Wide Range of Devices
At the end of 2022, KSZ was seeking a new, innovative WiFi solution to support its numerous devices - ranging from laptops, tablets, printers and phones to private devices owned by students and staff. Even with an existing stable wireless network, the IT team wanted a future-proof and scalable solution that could meet current needs while reliably accommodating growing demands for connectivity in the coming years. A particular focus was on ensuring compatibility with a wide variety of devices from multiple manufacturers and generations.
In this context, KSZ discovered Huawei’s campus solutions, with a particular emphasis on WiFi. Huawei, a pioneer in network innovation, had already introduced WiFi 7 access points to the market, positioning itself early in the adoption of the new standard. This early availability reflected not only Huawei’s significant investment in research and development - such as in the WiFi 7 standard - but also the company’s innovation leadership in modern networking technologies. Advanced features such as MACSec, CSI and WiFi-Shield, which go beyond the standard, have long been integrated into Huawei’s WiFi products.
Future-Proof WiFi Solution for the School
Huawei impressed not only with its advanced technology but also by close collaboration throughout the entire process. From evaluation to planning to successful implementation, Huawei worked hand-in-hand with the KSZ IT team. This close partnership enabled a seamless migration to the new system and ensured that the rollout of nearly 1,000 access points was successfully completed within the tight project schedule.
The school selected the high-end AirEngine 8771-X1T access point, specifically designed to meet the high demands of a modern educational environment. The WiFi 7 AP offers throughput of up to 18 Gbps via 4x4x4 MIMO and supports 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands, allowing a high number of simultaneous connections. Huawei WiFi 7 products are particularly strong in maintaining compatibility with older devices and WiFi standards, often optimising their performance in the process. This ensures that the schools can rely on a robust and high-performance WiFi infrastructure for years to come, even as user numbers and demands increase, with two electrical and one optical port providing 10 Gbps for network connectivity.
Benefits of the Upgraded Infrastructure
Following the deployment of the new access points via Zero Touch Provisioning, infrastructure management has been significantly simplified for technicians across all locations - from the support team, which can quickly access relevant information, to the second-level team, which can now work efficiently even during disruptions. The overall situation has also improved thanks to the newly implemented site redundancy, allowing locations to operate independently and ensuring uninterrupted operation across campuses.
The extended coverage and stable connections benefit everyday school activities, enabling faster streaming and better connectivity when using modern online learning tools or the latest devices such as whiteboards, tablets and other digital teaching aids. MultiLink and Lossless Roaming are particularly noteworthy, as they ensure seamless communication both in classrooms and hallways, supporting uninterrupted collaboration in digital services like video conferencing.
Long-Term Partnership and Ongoing Support
The project between Kantonsschule Zug and Huawei has evolved into a successful, long-term partnership. Beyond continuous support and knowledge sharing, the collaboration allows the school to leverage the latest technologies, keeping it at the forefront of digital infrastructure and enabling early adoption of future innovations. Thanks to this future-ready solution, Kantonsschule Zug is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the coming years and provide students and teachers with a reliable, high-performance and future-proof infrastructure.