Leading communications, wireless and SCADA network supplier, EMR Integrated Solutions today announced that it was chosen by UPC to deploy Ireland’s first, free outdoor Wi-Fi network at EastPoint Business Park in Dublin.
EMR worked closely with the UPC Business team to introduce the Wi-Fi to 23 access points across EastPoint Business Park. The solution designed was provided by EMR and delivered over UPC’s high speed fibre connectivity. It provides free public Wi-Fi access covering an area of almost 40 acres, which is home to 50 companies and over 6,000 employees on Dublin’s northside.
Commenting on the choice of EMR as deployment partner, Gavan Smyth, VP of business services with UPC said:
“We have been working with EMR since 2009, delivering licensed microwave connections to the public sector and there’s good synergy there. Deploying an outdoor network can be challenging, especially when you’re doing it across 40 acres.
“EMR have strong Wi-Fi expertise and they partner with best-in-class suppliers such as Ericsson. The project has been very successful and EastPoint management are extremely happy,” he said.
Building an outdoor wireless network is much more complex than an internal one and the EMR team faced a number of challenges along the way. Chief among them was extending network reach to areas such as a 150M stretch of road at the back entrance of the park where there was no fibre present.
“Our long track record in radio really helped us to overcome this practical problem,” according to chief operations officer with EMR, Derek Glynn. “We were able to re-configure some of the access points’ in-built back haul radio links to extend the reach of the fibre and ensure continuous connectivity for users.”
The network design consists of one controller to manage the network and 23 access points scattered at strategic locations throughout the campus. Ericsson access points were chosen due to their reliability and in-built radio back haul capability. They were installed at locations where power and fibre were present including bus shelters and street lamps.
The free, public Wi-Fi network has proved a hit with employees and people from the local community who come along to the weekly Farmer’s Market at EastPoint.
“On a sunny day, EastPoint management put out bean bags on the grass,” said Smyth. “So you’ll get people going to the market, buying their food and tweeting about it from bean bags on the grass. We’ve had a look at the stats and it’s interesting to see a huge uplift in Wi-Fi traffic on sunny days.”
Based in Dunboyne, Co Meath, EMR Integrated Solutions has a long track record in communications, SCADA and instrumentation solutions and successfully serves markets as diverse as retail, hospitality, utility, telecoms and public safety.
