A Case Study

The mall, a multi-story complex with diverse areas including shops, offices, and community centers, required a robust and reliable WiFi solution to cater to its various user groups. The goal was to provide seamless Internet access for shopkeepers and their customers, office employees and visitors, and attendees at community center events. Inventum, a leading technology partner, proposed using their M3 MSG Hotspot Gateway and Udaya cloud-managed access points to meet these needs.

Objectives

1. Provide Free WiFi to Shopkeepers and Their Customers: Enable shopkeepers to offer reliable and secure free WiFi to customers with OTP or social media-based authentication.
2. Office Connectivity: Ensure wired and wireless connectivity for office employees and visitors with OTP/password-based user authentication.
3. Support for Community Centers: Provide WiFi services for events, seminars, and other activities in the community centers with OTP or social media-based user authentication.
4. Centralized Management and Monitoring: Use a cloud controller to manage all access points across the mall for ease of configuration, monitoring, and maintenance.
5. Ensure Network Security and Performance: Implement network segmentation, encryption, and bandwidth management to ensure secure and efficient usage.

Solution Components

1. Hotspot Gateway: Inventum M3 MSG Hotspot Gateway
2. Access Points: Udaya Cloud-Managed Access Points
3. Cloud Controller: Udaya Cloud Management Platform

Implementation

1. Planning and Site Survey:

A comprehensive site survey was conducted to determine optimal locations for access points (APs) to ensure full coverage across shops, offices, and community centers. The survey considered high-density areas and potential sources of interference.

2. Network Design:

Network Segmentation:

• VLANs: Separate VLANs were created for Shops, Offices, and Community Centers.
• Core Switch Configuration: The core switch was configured to handle VLAN tagging and ensure proper routing between segments.

Security Measures:

• WPA3 Encryption: Ensured secure wireless connections.
• Firewall and IPS: Configured on the M3 MSG gateway to protect against external threats and unauthorized access.

3. Hardware Deployment:

Hotspot Gateway:

• Connected the Inventum M3 MSG gateway to the ISP modem and the core switch.
• Configured VLANs and DHCP for each segment.

Access Points:

• Deployed Udaya APs based on the site survey, ensuring optimal placement in shops, offices, and community centers.
• Connected APs to the network switch and registered them with the Udaya Cloud Management Platform.

4. Configuration:

Hotspot Gateway:

• Set up user authentication mechanisms, including OTP and social media logins for guests and password-based authentication for office employees.
• Defined bandwidth management and QoS policies to ensure fair and efficient usage.

Access Points:

• Configured multiple SSIDs for Shops, Offices, and Community Centers.
• Applied WPA3 encryption to secure wireless networks.
• Monitored and managed APs using the Udaya Cloud Management Platform.

5. Testing:

Conducted extensive testing to verify coverage, connectivity, and authentication processes. Adjustments were made to AP placements and configurations based on testing results to ensure optimal performance.

6. Training and Support:

Provided training for mall IT staff on using the Udaya Cloud Management Platform to manage and monitor the network. Established a support system for handling user issues and ongoing network maintenance.

Results

1. Enhanced User Experience:
   • Shopkeepers were able to provide seamless free WiFi to their customers, enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement.
   • Office employees and visitors experienced reliable and secure Internet connectivity, supporting productivity and communication.
   • Community centers could efficiently support events and seminars with robust WiFi services.
2. Improved Network Management:
   • The Udaya Cloud Management Platform allowed for centralized management of all APs, simplifying configuration changes, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
   • Real-time monitoring and alerts enabled proactive maintenance and quick resolution of any network issues.
3. Security and Performance:
   • Network segmentation and security measures ensured data privacy and protection against unauthorized access.
   • Bandwidth management and QoS policies optimized network performance, ensuring fair usage and prioritization of critical traffic.