Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is to make broadband internet access available to students living in its new 500-bedroom student residence building at Manor Village in Waterford City.
Networking firm Damovo has installed a fully managed access control system that uses multiple broadband connections, supplying low-cost internet access 24 hours a day. Students log on to the internet by connecting their computers to the network via the Damovo technology. Payments can be made by credit card or by WITCard, a multifunction smart card specially designed for access control, electronic point of sale, online printing and photocopying, vending, identification, library facilities and so on. The billing system will also support the ongoing use of the internet facility outside the academic year, during the summer months by foreign students and conference attendees.
“We aim to provide our students with a superior level of IT service. This is crucial to the success of both the college and the individual’s academic career at WIT. The solution Damovo implemented has provided us with the highest standards and most cost-effective accommodation internet access, which is by far the most advanced in the country,” said Eugene McKenna, general manager of auxiliary services at WIT.
The contract was awarded in August 2004 and the first phase of implementation is currently complete.
WIT was recently recognised by the National Association of Campus Card Users, the highest award in third-level programmes, for its contribution in both research and development to the card services industry.
By Brian Skelly
