Where We've Been
The initial MUnet Wireless project kicked off in 2004 with a total of 1,042 wireless access points (WAPs) in the original install. From there, the number of WAPs steadily increased year after year to the more than 5,600 we have now.
You can follow along with the timeline of Wi-Fi at Miami here:
Miami Wi-Fi 0.5: 2003-2004
Total WAPs: 100
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b
The beginning of Miami Wi-Fi! For the initial MUnet Wireless project, we cracked open the proverbial pipes and added several features, including guest access and departmental pockets of WAPs.
Miami Wi-Fi 1.0: 2004-2005
Total WAPs: 1,042
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/g
This was the first campus-wide rollout of MU-WIRELESS and MU-GUEST, and we added more than 1,000 access points. We're getting there!
Miami Wi-Fi 2.0: 2007-2008
Total WAPs: 1,375
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/g/a
Miami Wi-Fi 3.0: 2011-2012
Total WAPs: 1,901
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/g/a/n
This is when we started branching out and improving greenspace connectivity - in other words, between buildings. (Nowadays, you can walk anywhere on campus and have a strong signal.)
Miami Wi-Fi 4.0: 2014-2015
Total WAPs: 2,351
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 n/ac
Miami Wi-Fi 5.0: 2018-2019
Total WAPs: 5,100
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 n/ac
Now, we have denser coverage with a jump of nearly 3,000 WAPs in the past couple of years. The network is getting even more robust, and the Wi-Fi standard didn't change from year to year this time.
Miami Wi-Fi 6.0: 2019-2020
Total WAPs: 5,400
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 ac/ax
And that brings us to today! We are adding more WAPs than ever, along with replacing old ones and upgrading technology constantly. We're improving greenspace coverage and boosting connectivity.