Large universities carry a unique responsibility.
They serve tens of thousands of learners, researchers, faculty members, and staff who rely on stable, high-performance connectivity every single day. When a leading university in Quebec realized its decade-old network could no longer support the demands of a growing, mobile, and digitally connected community, the institution made the decision to pursue one of the largest campus network transformations in the province.
Compugen and HPE Aruba stepped in as long-term partners, working side by side with the university to modernize its wired and wireless environment across more than 30 buildings. What followed was a multi-year journey rooted in trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to building a modern campus experience.
The Challenge
The university’s existing network had reached a breaking point. Much of the wired and wireless infrastructure had been in place for close to ten years, and support issues were becoming increasingly frequent. Students and staff needed stronger coverage, faster performance, and improved reliability, yet the aging design could not keep pace. 
The institution also had an ambitious vision: complete wireless coverage across every building, every floor, and all major outdoor spaces. Achieving that vision meant moving from roughly 1,500 access points to nearly 7,000. The scale alone made it clear that the university needed a full architectural refresh rather than another patchwork upgrade.
The challenge was not simply technological. It was strategic. The university needed a partner capable of helping them rethink and rebuild their network from the ground up while ensuring continuity for thousands of daily users.
The Opportunity
The turning point arrived when university leadership began exploring a broader modernization plan. Compugen’s local presence and long-standing relationship with the region, paired with HPE Aruba’s strong footprint in the Quebec education sector, created a natural fit.
Quebec procurement rules require selecting a single OEM before entering the RFP process. Because Compugen and HPE Aruba had already built strong relationships and proven their strength in education deployments, they chose to pursue the opportunity together.
This decision positioned the partnership to compete effectively in an RFP where several other bidders represented the legacy vendor. The university responded positively to the idea of a new direction, especially one supported by a team located nearby and capable of offering quick, personalized support.
The Compugen and HPE Aruba partnership offered something the customer had not experienced before: direct access to technical experts, a flexible and responsive engagement model, and a willingness to work through the design alongside the university team.
The Solution
Deploying a solution of this size required precision and a clear architectural blueprint. The project included approximately 500 switches and 6,000 access points that needed to be deployed across more than 30 buildings with consistent quality and predictable performance.
From the start, Compugen and HPE Aruba worked closely with the university team to build a design methodology that could be applied to each building. This included extensive laboratory testing, joint validation exercises, and collaborative troubleshooting to ensure that every component of the solution functioned reliably in the university’s complex environment.
To support consistency, Compugen embedded resources on site during critical phases of the rollout. This hands-on approach helped the university navigate technical hurdles and establish a repeatable model that continues to guide the remaining phases of the deployment.
The Outcome
Although the project is still underway, the impact of the work completed so far has been significant. Approximately half of the buildings now run on HPE Aruba’s wired and wireless architecture, and early performance results have been strong. Users have reported faster connectivity and improved coverage, especially in high-density areas.
Equally important is the operational stability. Once the solution is tuned, support requirements decrease and the university benefits from a more predictable and manageable environment.
Another key outcome is the level of partnership established through the project. Compugen and Aruba teams remained consistently available, providing hands-on guidance through testing, design changes, and support ticket escalations. Weekly meetings during early phases kept everyone aligned and ensured that issues were resolved quickly.
The university now has a clear upgrade path for the remainder of the campus and a proven model for future modernization projects.
The Future
The modernization initiative spans six years and continues to advance on schedule. With renewals already completed, the university has demonstrated its long-term confidence in both Compugen and HPE Aruba.
Beyond the walls of the campus, the project has broader implications. It is currently the largest network transformation in Quebec’s higher-education sector, giving other institutions a benchmark for what a full modernization can achieve. The success of this deployment reinforces Aruba’s leadership in WiFi within the province while highlighting the quality and reliability of its wired network, which continues to strengthen its position across the education sector.
As the university completes the remainder of its buildings, Compugen will continue to play an active role as a Technology Ally, supporting design, optimization, and long-term planning.
The Relationship
The relationship between Compugen, HPE Aruba, and the university is built on trust and proximity. The university valued having a local partner who could respond quickly, show up on site when needed, and work through issues collaboratively.
Compugen’s willingness to take on professional services, conduct joint lab testing, support ticket escalations, and maintain transparent communication helped position the team as more than a vendor. It positioned Compugen as a long-term ally dedicated to the success of the institution and its community.
This partnership has become a model for what is possible when technical expertise, customer care, and strategic alignment come together to support a major modernization effort.
If your institution is preparing for a major network refresh or facing aging infrastructure challenges, Compugen can help you design a modern and reliable campus experience that serves your community well into the future. Connect with our HPE Aruba team to explore how our Technology Ally approach can support your next step.
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