News Article

St. John’s campuses introduce wireless service to students


10/8/2009 3:41:55 PM


Students looking to pass time between classes, or even do research for a class assignment; will now be able to do so via wireless internet at three College of the North Atlantic campuses.

The Prince Philip Drive, Ridge Road and Seal Cove campuses in St. John’s had their internet capabilities upgraded recently so that individuals can jump online from various hot spots throughout the buildings.

Gary Comeau, manager of information technology infrastructure, and the project manager for the Student Wireless Project, contacted other government educational organizations throughout Atlantic Canada as part of a feasibility study that led to the creation of a final three-phase project plan for wireless services.

“The objective of the plan is to deploy a centrally managed, feature rich student wireless network at all campus locations throughout the province in an effort to provide CNA’s students with a more flexible and rewarding learning environment,” explained Comeau.

The wireless capability has been under discussion within the senior management and IT groups of the college for a number of years; however with the recent addition of various technical requirements it has begun to take life.

CNA Systems Analysts Lee Pederson and Stewart Hamlyn have completed the initial deployment of the wireless system at the St. John’s campuses of the college, which went live on September 30. Both analysts are confident that the system will be available as per the project plan timelines for phase one.

Phase one will see wireless network access to the public internet being made available in campus libraries, cafeterias, lounges and common gathering areas at all campuses of the college by early in 2010. This service will also be accessible to the public who can benefit by having access to resources found on the public internet.

“Basically, this is the deployment of a cyber café within all college campuses where individuals who wish to use their own personal portable computing devices capable of accessing the network may do so at their own discretion,” stated Comeau.

Phase two of the plan will see a security environment and governance strategy deployed to allow students and approved college partners access to internal services found on the college’s provincial wide area network. This phase of the project will start up in the fall of 2010.

“Phase 3 is planned to see us deliver virtualised applications images that will allow the student to work on their course of studies at home, in class or on the grassy knoll outside,” explained Comeau. “Using the personal technology they are familiar with in their private lives. We could, for instance, deliver the college SharePoint portal to their iPhone or Blackberry, supply voice over internet protocol (i.e. SKYPE) type services for DL or learner to learner communications.”


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For more information contact:

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca