The evolution of the campus network from a "school construction, operator rent" model to "multi-operator entry, joint operation, student autonomy," behind which this shift is based is an upgrade in the logic of the entire campus. The operating logic has changed and the system of costing that underpins it must be upgraded.
Why didn't the old pattern run?
Schools sell the network to a operator, and students have no choice, either accept it or do not use it. The advantage of this model is simple management, with poor quality of service, high prices, and student complaints.
As the students’ awareness of their rights and the price of broadband for household use continues to decline, the day has come to an end when the operator "gets paid" to lie down.
The joint model of multi-operator entry is promoted in this context.
The billing system is a joint operating "operational system"
Multiple operators enter schools, not just by signing a contract. Without a good system of billing, joint operations become "combined chaos": the operator’s account codes are not shared, students have been registered repeatedly, bills are broken up and complaints are made to no one.
This is the problem that Natshell_BRAD V7 NATSHEL_AUTH_BILLING system solves. It harmonizes authentication entrances, standardizes billing rules, and transparents the logic of splits so that multiple operators operate under one system without interference or competition.
For students, the experience is uniform. The certification method is the same as the Internet process regardless of which operator you select.
For operators, the system provides an independent management back-office. Package design, price strategy, and user data are autonomously controlled.
For schools, the data are available.
Key points for improving the quality of services
The quality of the university campus network has improved, mainly through:
First, the package design is stratified. The demand for the network varies widely between students. Some students simply use micro-mails to read videos, some play games to live and others need a lot of downloading learning material. The package design covers these different levels of demand, with a gradient in prices.
The school or operator has to establish a rapid response service mechanism, and the billing system alert function is to send network anomalies to its operators in time. V7 supports multi-level alarm configurations that can automatically trigger different forms of notification depending on the failure level.
The system should be proactive in reminding students of the cost before the expiration of their package, so that they do not suddenly break the Internet to affect their experiences. Reminders can be provided by text messages, micro-message public, and Portal windows.
Fourth, preferential policies need to be flexible. These marketing tools, such as the newer entry preferences, old user renewal discounts and recommended new user traffic, are useful for raising the rate.
Fifth, data analysis is in depth. Operational data are not just a statement to the leader, but should be the basis for optimizing decision-making. For example, when the top of the Internet peaks, which areas have the most complaints, which packages sell best, and which operators have the highest loss rate.——The answers to these questions are in the data.
University-specific operational challenges
The network of campuses at universities operates with several special features, which are not available in the home broadband market.
First, there are clear periodic fluctuations. The school network has declined significantly during the summer break, but the operator’s bandwidth costs are fixed. How to balance payments in the off season is a matter for operators to consider.
Unlike the social market, students in higher education leave school every year and enrol in schools.
The building needs to be stable and secure. The dormitory needs a flexible set of meals for life, and the library needs a large flow of support for academic research.
Fourth, operator competition is limited to physical networks. Signal coverage may vary between operators, with some regions having strong signals from one operator to another. This difference in physical layers affects the pattern of competition and schools need to consider equity when introducing multiple operators.
Proposal for a business upgrade
For higher education institutions that wish to promote the upgrading of their campus network, it is recommended that steps be taken.
First, evaluates the existing systems. Identify the school’s network infrastructure, existing billing systems, and operator cooperation.
The obligation to make a clear reference to the school, operator, student and other rights is set out in the contract.
The choice of a fee system is crucial, with stability, expansion, compliance, and the capacity of the plant to service. NATSHEL_BRAND V7 has been validated by a large number of higher education projects and can be considered as a priority option.
Step four, small scale pilot. The new model should not be fully rolled out from the outset, but could first select one or two dormitory buildings to test processes, identify problems and refine options.
The pilot is successful before it is expanded.
NATHHEL_BRAND has a complete solution to the upgrading of the campus network, which will allow schools to complete their previous consultations and later transportation.