Chris Gilmour, CTO at Axians UK, tells us why universities must rethink their network infrastructure to create intelligent, secure and sustainable connected campuses that can support growing device demands, strengthen cyber-resilience and enable the next generation of digital learning.
Every September, UK universities face a familiar challenge.
Thousands of students return to campus bringing multiple connected devices, from laptops and tablets to smartphones, wearables and gaming consoles. What was once a simple Wi-Fi requirement has evolved into a complex digital ecosystem that underpins the entire student experience.
Campus networks are far more than infrastructure. They are strategic enablers of learning, research, student satisfaction and institutional resilience. When tens of thousands of devices connect simultaneously, institutions need networks designed for scale, performance and security from day one.
From connectivity to experience
Network congestion is often viewed as an IT issue, but the consequences extend much further. Slow or unreliable connectivity can disrupt student onboarding, enrolment, accommodation processes, financial services and access to learning platforms at the very moment students form their first impressions of university life.
With many institutions facing financial pressures and increased competition for students, the quality of the digital experience has become a key differentiator. Universities cannot afford for network performance to become a barrier to engagement, retention or reputation. In an increasingly digital-first education model, connectivity has become as fundamental as the classroom itself.
Intelligent traffic management
Modern campus environments require wireless infrastructure capable of supporting hundreds of concurrent connections while maintaining a consistent user experience. However, capacity alone is not enough.
Networks must intelligently prioritise mission-critical traffic such as online learning, academic collaboration, AI-enabled research workloads and university business applications, while maintaining fair access for recreational services. Effective segmentation and policy-driven management ensure that the most important activities always receive the performance they require.
Security built on Zero Trust
The widespread adoption of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) introduces significant security challenges. Students and staff expect seamless access regardless of device type, yet every unmanaged endpoint represents potential risk.
A Zero Trust architecture provides the foundation for secure digital campuses. By continuously verifying identities, devices and behaviours, universities can gain real-time visibility of connected assets, automatically isolate suspicious activity and strengthen cyber-resilience without impacting legitimate users.
Visibility, safety and Martyn’s Law
The introduction of Martyn’s Law reinforces the need for greater campus-wide visibility and situational awareness. Universities can no longer treat physical security, operational technology and IT infrastructure as separate domains.
A connected campus approach that integrates network telemetry, IoT sensors, identity services, access control systems and video analytics provides a single operational view of the campus environment. This not only helps improve safety and support compliance obligations, but also enables faster incident response, more informed decision-making and greater operational resilience while maintaining a positive student experience.
Sustainability and operational efficiency
Universities are also under pressure to reduce operational costs and meet sustainability commitments. Modern network infrastructure can play a critical role in both objectives.
By integrating connectivity with IoT sensors, automation platforms and analytics, institutions can optimise energy consumption across lecture theatres, libraries, study spaces and accommodation facilities. Lighting, heating and power can be dynamically adjusted based on occupancy and usage patterns, reducing waste while improving the campus environment. This approach lowers operational expenditure while supporting broader environmental and net-zero objectives.
The strategic opportunity
University leaders should no longer view networking as a background utility. Intelligent, secure and sustainable connectivity is fundamental to delivering an exceptional student experience, protecting institutional assets and enabling innovation.
Universities that invest in modern digital foundations today will be best positioned to attract students, support world-class research and operate more efficiently in the years ahead. The goal is not simply better Wi-Fi. It is creating a connected campus that enables people, technology and learning to thrive together, safely, securely and sustainably, while providing the visibility, resilience and agility that modern Higher Education increasingly demands.
