The University of Reading

The University of Reading is ranked as one of the UK’s ten most research-intensive universities and enjoys a position in the top 200 universities in the world.

Its three main sites – London Road, Whiteknights Park and Bulmershe Court – total 160 hectares of grounds and host a mix of traditional and modern architecture.

As part of a drive to improve communications throughout the estate, the University decided to install a new telephone system across its campus and halls of residence.

This was part of a wider, ongoing initiative to create 21st century facilities in its naturally beautiful landscape, while preserving the University’s heritage.

The Challenge

The University sought a specialist supplier to execute the installation of cabling and telephone points to its 4,000 rooms. The intention was for these terminals to be used for personal and academic use, with data and/or Internet connectivity.

A key consideration for the University, as well as its chosen technology partner, was to avoid disruption to the academic timetable. This meant that the entire installation would need to be completed during the University holidays. Rather than a complete shut down however, the University would be hosting a number of out of term conferences so a tight schedule would be required.

With 60 engineers working simultaneously across the University’s 80 buildings, security, health and safety and damage limitation issues would be added concerns – especially as a large party of Italian schoolchildren was just one of the groups using the University facilities during the deployment.

Solutions Delivered

ISG technology was brought on board due to the IT service provider’s previous experience of similar installations, with Salford, Keele and Birmingham Universities having already benefited from ISG’s expertise in network infrastructure.

The team instigated discussions nine months prior to the start of the works as a means of introducing ISG’s project managers to the relevant University departments and assuring officials of the company’s capabilities to manage an installation of this scale. This initial ‘launch’ meeting and ISG’s regular briefings with the University estates department, halls of residence and the chosen communications partner, Ericsson, were the key to the completion of the project.  

These sessions enabled key personnel to be introduced, an implementation strategy to be put in place and a timetable to be agreed. They also ensured that everyone involved understood the plan and was focused on the main objectives.

ISG’s attentive project management proved especially critical during the final four weeks of the installation, when detailed planning took place to define the number of rooms and determine the internal and external cabling routes used.

Thanks to the team’s competence and professional execution, over 4,000 data outlets, 20,000 metres of copper multicore cable, 17,000 metres of fibre optic cable and 5,000 metres of trenchwork were completed to the University’s tight timescales.

The University expressed its thanks to ISG, complimenting the company on its professionalism, conduct and positive approach to the task.

Please click on the following link to dowload The University of Reading case study as a PDF.