Campus Network Refresh Initiative
In order to meet increasing demands for reliable and high-speed connectivity, DIT is leading an ambitious initiative to replace and upgrade our campus network.
This initiative aims to modernize our network infrastructure, enhance security to protect us from cyber-threats, and achieve these exciting network service enhancements:
Unify network services across the campus so that wired and wireless connections deliver the same experience
Increase network performance by standardizing on Wi-Fi 6E, which enables faster, more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity and supports bandwidth-intensive activities
Expand outdoor wireless in key strategic locations such as McKeldin Mall and Hornbake Plaza
Deliver seamless “at home” experiences for students who live on campus
Timeline
During the summer, fall, and winter Division of Information Technology staff and our installation partners will be doing preliminary work to prepare for a deployment of the improved network services beginning in 2024. This phase involves extensive engineering and testing in a small set of pilot buildings. During this phase, we will also install cables for the additional wireless access points around campus and upgrade fiber cabling between data closets to support the increased bandwidth for wired and wireless users. If changes during this phase will cause significant disruption in a pilot building, we will notify building occupants in advance.
In January 2024, we’ll pilot building-level hardware upgrades in representative academic, non-academic, and residential buildings. Then, building-level hardware upgrades will be scheduled for all UMD buildings. During this time, there will be interruptions to networks in buildings as we upgrade the infrastructure. The team will work to ensure disruptions are scheduled around peak building usage periods. Network upgrades in academic/administrative buildings will generally occur during evenings, nights, and weekends, while residence halls will be upgraded during the day break periods. Specific notifications will be sent about each outage to network users in each affected building.
After each building hardware upgrade is complete, it will undergo an implementation of policy-based networking, in coordination with departmental IT contacts.
Current Schedules
Phase 1 - Access Point Cabling - Complete
Technicians are installing new cables in UMD buildings in order to support additional wireless access points at a future phase in the project. This work is not expected to disrupt any IT services or normal building activities.
Phase 2 - Hardware Upgrades - Complete
Technicians are performing hardware upgrades in UMD buildings. Hardware upgrades entail replacing all building switching and wireless access point equipment while maintaining the current network configuration.
View the Phase 2 Completed Buildings List
Phase 3 - Policy-Driven Network
Network access will be driven by policies and roles that are dynamically assigned. The Division of IT will make back-end network changes in consultation with departmental IT contacts.
Certificate-based network authentication and OnGuard have been successfully deployed to all 19,000 institutional Windows and Mac devices. These are key technologies for policy-based networking.
As this phase progresses, users will begin to experience consistent access across campus. This means your network experience will be the same regardless of whether you’re on a wired or wireless connection and no matter where you are on campus. For example, accessing departmental printers will work seamlessly across both connection types.
Accomplishments
During the hardware upgrade phase, we:
As of Fall 2025:
Contact
If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please reach out to the project team at CampusNetworkRefresh@umd.edu.