“It doubles the bandwidth, increases client capacity and lowers latency,” says Ritesh Patel, a Dell’Oro Group analyst. “Wi-Fi 6 will enable a better end-user experience for residents as well as staff.”
That, Couture notes, is already under consideration. “Having the latest Wi-Fi standard that can support more devices per node will be essential to support growth.”
Faster Wi-Fi also triggers upgrades to the broadband connections that operators get from their local telecom providers — a necessary boost for senior residences as wireless devices become more prevalent in use and quantity among those who live there.
“Right now, we’re putting a 100-megabit-per-second pipe into each community,” Burns, of Sun Health, says, adding that the work is far from complete. “We think we need to get 10 times that within the next five years.”
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New Networks and IT Infrastructure Enable Emerging Tech
In 2018, Sun Health turned to CDW for a major infrastructure overhaul that included Aruba Networks switches, wireless routers and access points; Dell servers; HPE Nimble Storage flash arrays; and VMware commercial desktop visualization products.
It all helps support a variety of offerings that include computer classes, VR headsets and interactive screens for gaming and therapeutic purposes. “We are working to keep seniors connected socially, both on and off the campus, and provide them options for technologies that will help us help them enjoy life to the fullest,” Burns says.
The new infrastructure also provides a foundation for an expansion of Sun Health’s La Loma Village residence in Litchfield Park, Ariz.