Overview

Client: University of Southampton
Project Partners: CAE / BOXXE
Completion: September 2024 – August 2027 (3 year duration)
Our Role: Design, supply, install, and commission a full campus network refresh, delivering a future-proof, high-performance infrastructure for the University’s digital campus.

The University of Southampton embarked on a transformative Network Refresh Project to future-proof its digital infrastructure, improve network resilience, and enable high-performance connectivity for academic, research, and administrative functions.

SceptreNet partnered with CAE and BOXXE to deliver a campus-wide solution, working directly with the lead consultant team and the University throughout the design, deployment, and project lifecycle. The project demanded meticulous planning, coordination, and execution across a live university environment – all while maintaining minimal disruption to teaching, research, and administrative operations.

Solution

SceptreNet delivered a full-scale network refresh using CommScope CAT6A F/FTP cabling, advanced wireless solutions, and modern rack and power infrastructure:

7,300 CommScope CAT6A F/FTP data outlets – supporting high-density academic and administrative connectivity.

New 7-way blown fibre tubes – designed for scalability and reduced future disruption.

External diverse OS2 single-mode fibre – creating a resilient high-speed campus backbone.

13,000 Cisco Access Points deployed – providing blanket wireless coverage across all campus buildings and outdoor spaces.

Wireless design & survey – three-stage design process ensuring optimal signal strength, minimal interference, and maximum coverage.

201 comms cabinet upgrades – modernising existing infrastructure and consolidating network elements.

New MightMo USystems/Legrand racks – configured for cable management, labelling, and redundancy.

Raritan metered PDUs – ensuring efficient, monitored power distribution.

Consolidated and upgraded LAN infrastructure to improve speed, resilience, and operational efficiency.

Segregated networks for critical academic research, administrative functions, and student services.

Why This Project Stands Out

Scale

Thousands of network outlets and access points deployed across a live, operational campus.

Future-proofing

Blown fibre and high-quality CAT6A cabling provide long-term scalability without major disruption.

Wireless Excellence

13,000 access points deployed with careful site surveys and multi-stage design for unmatched coverage.

Collaborative Delivery

Worked directly with both the University and lead consultant team to align technology deployment with campus operations.

High-performance Infrastructure

Modern racks, metered power, and resilient fibre backbone ensure network uptime for critical academic and research operations.

Impact & Outcome

The University of Southampton now operates on a state of the art WIFI7, resilient, and future-ready network, supporting:

Academic and research digital workloads
High-density student and staff connectivity
Wireless-enabled classrooms and labs
Robust infrastructure for future technology deployments

This campus-wide refresh sets a new benchmark in digital infrastructure for higher education, demonstrating SceptreNet’s capability to deliver high-scale, high-performance, and fully future-proof network solutions.