By Anya Shah ’25
Blue and Gold may still be Choate’s school colors, but they are no longer the names of the School’s Wi-Fi networks: Information Technology Services (ITS) recently made the switch from the “Gold” network to “eduroam,” a network access service used in higher education institutions around the world.
Director of ITS Mr. Andrew Speyer announced the transfer to “eduroam” at School Meeting on Tuesday, January 9. He requested that all community members connect to the new Wi-Fi as ITS plans on shutting down “Gold” in the near future.
“Eduroam” aims to improve school security while increasing the speed of internet access around campus. “Everybody knew the ‘connect19’ [password], and that inherently makes it insecure,” Mr. Stephen Glassman, Manager of Network Technical Services, said.
With this change, on-campus faculty residences will also have access to ResNET, a network to make their home spaces feel more separated from school life. The network will support Internet of Things devices, such as smart appliances. “They live on campus, and we want them to be treated like they [are] at home and [have] nothing to do with Choate,” Mr. Glassman added.
According to Mr. Speyer, the switch to “eduroam” was a two-step process beginning two years ago. First, ITS replaced the more than 700 physical access points located in campus buildings. Next, they established more secure wireless networks, including a new guest Wi-Fi process that allows guests to connect with a code sent via SMS or email and will limit external use of Choate’s main Wi-Fi network.
“Eduroam”’s appeal lies in its connection to higher education institutions worldwide. “We liked that you could go to another college or another member institution and log in with your credentials,” Mr. Speyer said.
Mr. Speyer also hopes that community members experience a faster network and more seamless connectivity on “eduroam.” “It should be faster because when you walk from building to building, you connect on one access point, you leave it, and you connect to the next one,” Mr. Speyer said.
With the majority of the school community now connected to “eduroam,” there is only one more step before the transfer to the new network is fully complete — Mr. Speyer and his department are developing a fourth wireless network for boarders to connect their other devices, such as gaming consoles, too. “That will allow anybody on campus, any boarder on campus, to register their own games … if they’re the right age and form,” Mr. Speyer said.
Following its predecessors of “Blue” and “Gold,” “eduroam” will bring faster connectivity, higher security, and additional perks for the entire Choate community. ”
