Wireless Networks enable un-tethered computing within a company’s premises and outlying building either as a supplement to a traditional LAN or a complete replacement.

Alternatively, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) can be utilised to replace fixed telecoms connectivity between a company’s premises, significantly lowering recurring costs.

Benefits of Wireless Networks &WLANs

It depends on the needs of your organisation.

• For some companies it allows computing in environments where fixed networking wouldn’t be at all viable, such as warehouses – where the mobility need is constant as a relatively small number of employees actually spend periods of time working from fixed desks.
• For other companies it can either present a direct cost saving when cabling within or between premises is proportionately more expensive than WLAN.
• In others it can present an indirect cost saving as employees time is more effective.For instance, being able to access information immediately in meeting rooms without having to print off materials.

In any situation, increasing employee productivity, whether measured as a cost saving or a revenue generator, is the core driver for mobility solutions.

Thinking about deploying or upgrading your wireless network?

Then make sure you think about the following;

• Coverage - this is the raw transmission of wireless across your company’s premises
• Quality - this refers to the stability and throughput of the connection.This is often greatly influences by congestion from other nearby WLANs.
• Enablers - being features that can extend the value of the equipment (such as being able to use QoS for VoIP or enable separate VLANs to dual purpose the equipment WLAN functions)
• Security - being the organizations confidence that the WLAN does not pose any more a security threat than a Physical LAN by being able to push forward policy, control and monitoring measures.

A successful deployment depends on understanding business usage requirements (now and in the future) and to perform a survey to ensure that Wireless Access Points (APs) are well placed, their transmissions don’t overlap and that the right frequency is identified to minimise congestion with other nearby WLANs.

How Foehn can help?

As IP networks experts, we deal regularly with clients looking to implement, extend or change their wireless network or WLAN infrastructure. Our focus is on providing solutions with proven cost and performance effectiveness.Some of the wireless technology vendors we recommend and work with include Cisco, Motorola and Meraki.