ICTC to install Wi-Fi in CEAT, Admin, ULS next sem

After installing DLSU-D Wi-Fi in the College of Education and the Julian Felipe Hall last academic year (AY), Information and Communications Technology Center (ICTC) Director Kristina Miciano shared that the ICTC plans to install Wi-Fi in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) Candido Tirona Hall building, Ugnayang La Salle (ULS), and Gregoria Montoya Hall (administration building) next semester of AY 2017-2018.

“The last expansion we had was last school year (2016-2017), covering COE (College of Education) and JFH (Julian Felipe Hall) … This school year target namin around CEAT, ULS, and sa may Admin, so most probably by second sem[ester],” Miciano said.

The “DLSU-D Wi-Fi” according to the ICTC director is strategically installed in public areas where students can stop by during their vacant time, such as the JFH kubos and soon, the kubos situated in CEAT.

In anticipation for the installment of internet connection to these areas, Miciano said the ICTC is upgrading the back-end programs, such as the firewall, bandwidth, and systems.

Miciano added the recent expansion of network was bigger due to the increase of users, signaling the center’s plan to acquire stronger back-end programs, such as the firewall.

Internet speed

Upon sharing sentiments of Lasallians on the slow internet speed in campus, Miciano said different factors affect the internet speed, such as the technical component or the back-end programs like the firewall. This effect on internet speed is one of the reasons for ICTC’s gradual upgrading of the internet system.

Another factor that affects the internet speed, according to the ICTC director, is the volume of the users.

“So what we are doing about it, nag a-add kami ng mga areas wherein ang mga bata ay puwede gumamit tapos ayun nga in-a-upgrade namin ‘yong mga devices para mas ma-cater ‘yong mga mas maraming students,” Miciano said.

Banned sites

DLSU-D’s firewall automatically blocks pornographic sites, websites not practical for academic purposes, and bandwidth-intensive sites, such as online streaming website Netflix. Recently, some students noted the temporary accessibility to banned sites such as Netflix, Steam, Instagram, and Twitter.

Miciano explained this temporary accessibility to some banned sites in the past could have happened during the time the firewall wasn’t fully configured.

“Probably may time during transition na o-open ‘yong ports or for example, ‘yong firewall na naka-demo, hindi pa siya fully configured so most probably nakakalabas ‘yong network,” Miciano explained.

She added that using sites such as Netflix and Steam are bandwidth-intensive and might only create slower internet connection for other students.

Venue for complaints

Meanwhile, the ICTC director encouraged students to forward their concerns and feedbacks to the ICTC help desk, adding that social media sites such as Facebook is “not a proper venue” to complain on issues involving campus internet connection. She also mentioned that  concerns posted on Facebook will not be properly validated or monitored by ICTC.

Meanwhile, Miciano assured the students of ICTC’s efforts to update the system of the internet connection yearly in the campus.

“Rest assured na naka program ‘yong updates namin, hindi lang talaga natin mabibigla kasi limited kasi ‘yong budget natin so we make sure nalang na ma-program natin every year, meron kaming na de-deliver na update,” Miciano furthered.

For concerns regarding the internet connection, students can e-mail ICT’s helpdesk at helpdesk@dlsud.edu.ph or visit the ICTC office located near Gate 2.