A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Upgrade Your School’s Wi-Fi Network 

A strong and reliable Wi-Fi network is essential for a modern school. It’s the backbone for online learning, digital textbooks, and administrative tasks. But when your school’s wi-fi network can’t keep up with more devices and higher demands, it’s time for an upgrade. 

Planning to upgrade your school’s Wi-Fi network might seem like a huge job, but it’s straightforward with a clear plan. This guide walks you through the entire process, from initial planning to final deployment. 

Phase 1: Planning and Assessment 

Before you buy any new equipment, you need to understand your current network’s strengths and weaknesses and define your future needs. 

1. A Detailed Network Audit 

• Examining existing hardware: Take an inventory of all your current access points (APs), switches, routers, and cables. Note their models, age, and specifications. 

• Run a performance check: Use a professional’s help to perform network testing tools to measure speeds, latency, and signal strength in all areas of the school. 

• Gather user feedback: Talk to teachers and students. Find out about dead zones, slow connections, and other frustrating issues. This feedback is as important as the data you collect. 

You can either do this yourself or involve an expert/agency at this stage. Involving an expert who has an excellent idea of what works and what wouldn’t help you plan your network upgrade better. 

2. Define Your Goals 

• Coverage: Decide where you need to extend or upgrade your school’s Wi-Fi network.

• Capacity: With the help of a professional, create a heatmap to gauge how many devices the new network needs to support. Consider each user on the network when planning your network capacity. 

• Speed: Figure out the bandwidth requirements for different applications, from video conferencing to online testing. 

• Security: Plan how you want the network to be segmented for different user groups (e.g., students, staff, guests) and what security protocols you want to implement in the network 

It’s important to seek professional help at this stage to get the best measure of when, how, and to what extent your wi-fi network needs to be upgraded. 

3. Create a Budget and Research Vendors 

• Factor in all costs: Your budget should include more than just the price of hardware. Also, account for software licenses, professional installation, new cabling, and ongoing maintenance. 

• Explore your options: Research vendors that specialize in providing school’s wifi. Compare products, support, and scalability or hire an expert to explore options for your school. 

Phase 2: Design and Procurement 

With a clear plan and budget, you can design the new network and purchase the right equipment. 

4. Get a Professional Site Survey 

• Hire an expert: A professional will use specialized tools to create a detailed heat map design of your school.  

• Optimize placement: The survey will show where to place new access points for the best coverage and performance. It will also help identify potential sources of interference. 

5. Choose the Right Hardware and Software 

• Access Points (APs): Select enterprise-grade APs that support the latest standards like Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. These are designed for high-density environments and offer better performance in crowded areas. 

• Switches: Choose PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches to power your new APs, eliminating the need for separate electrical outlets. 

• Management Software: Look for a robust network management platform. It should allow you to monitor, configure, and troubleshoot your entire network from a single dashboard. 

6. Finalize the Plan and Order Equipment 

• Review everything: Go over the final plan with your IT team and school administration. 

• Place orders: Once everyone agrees, you can finalize the purchase orders and schedule the delivery of your new equipment. 

Phase 3: Deployment and Testing 

The hardware has arrived—now it’s time for installation and configuration. 

7. Installation and Cabling 

• Upgrade old cables: If needed, install new cabling (CAT6 is recommended) to support higher speeds. 

• Mount the APs: Have a professional team install the new access points exactly where the site survey recommended them. 

8. Configure and Integrate 

• Set up management software: Have the professional team configure your new network management systems and devices. 

• Implement network and security policies: 

• SSIDs: Have the team separate network names for different user groups (e.g., “Student-Network,” “Staff-Network”) or opt for a single-sign-on network with the use of authentication mechanisms like AD, Google Console etc. 

• VLANs: Virtual Local Area Networks are used to segment traffic, which improves both security and performance. 

• Security: Implement strong security protocols like WPA3 with a professional team’s assistance. 

9. Test and Optimize 

• Run tests: Before going live, have the team perform extensive speed and coverage tests in all areas. Look for any dead spots. 

• Pilot program: Run a small test with a group of users to get real-world feedback and make any necessary adjustments. 

Phase 4: Go-Live and Ongoing Management 

The big moment has arrived. 

10. Go-Live 

• Choose the right time: Schedule the switch to the new network for a time with minimal disruption, like a school holiday or weekend. 

• Communicate the change: Inform staff and students about the new network and provide simple instructions on how to connect. 

11. Monitor and Maintain 

• Stay vigilant: Use your network management software or NOC (network operations center) services to track usage and identify any issues before they become problems. 

• Keep it updated: Have your support team regularly install firmware and software updates to ensure your network is secure and performing at its best. 

• Ask for feedback: Continue to ask teachers and students for feedback to identify areas for future improvement. 

Planning to upgrade your school’s Wi-Fi is a big project, but it’s an investment to better education and the learning experiences of students. By following these steps and with the support of dedicated IT experts, you can ensure a smooth transition to a fast, reliable, and secure network that will serve your school for years to come.