Secure Wireless Connections across Multiple Facilities

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The Challenge

Bechtel wanted to provide network access to the management and staff members of a project, with internet and intranet access from their residential camp. These camp areas arespread across three sites of 16,200 square meters each. They were each are located approximately half-a-kilometer from the administrative camp and the I.T. Network Operations Center (IT/NOC).

There are nearly 175 caravans (living rooms) spread across these areas requiring internet connected to access the network resources. These caravans vary in size and shape, and providing wired network access to each of these rooms was a very costly option.

Moreover, one of Bechtel’s most important requirements is to provide internet access to its guests on the same infrastructure, without compromising the network security, and preventing access to the corporate resources accessed over their intranet.

The Solution

InterNetwork Technology powered by USRobotics, implemented a hybrid network of wireless coverage to the management and staff camps interconnected to the IT/NOC by Optical Fiber backbone.

The USRobotics Professional Access Point (AP) is designed to be placed within the ring of 30 meter radius. The APs were grouped in clusters of eight and connected to the network with category 6 Ethernet cabling, and powered using USRobotics Power over Ethernet kits. Optical Fiber backbone cables connect each of these networks to the I.T. Network Operations Center.

To cover areas outside the range of the core wireless network, USRobotics High Gain 14dBi Panel Directional Antenna were used providing excellent signal reception. The flexible security options available with the APs allowed Bechtel to configure the network to meet their security requirements, limiting guest to Internet access only, while constraining access to the intranet to corporate employees.

The Benefits

Bechtel IT staff have an easier management experience using the AP clustering functionality, which allows one AP to automatically configure the other seven in its cluster. They are able to allow Internet connectivity to guest on their premise, without compromising corporate security, and the wireless coverage has meant complete signal saturation, with no dead spots, even into fring areas.

“The design is excellent especially since it covers the three areas fully and allows up to 100 users to use the Wi-Fi network at the same time. The network design and equipment provide an opportunity for employees, and visitors, to be connected to the Internet and/or Bechtel’s intranet during almost all the off-work hours. This is critical to the users because they need to complete work from their homes due to the time difference between Abu Dhabi and home office. For others, the network helps them stay in touch with family and friends through personal e-mails, instant messaging or sometimes even using Voice over Internet,” says Adel Arteen, one of the managers on this project.

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