A new agreement between Bradley University and T-Mobile will see the university leveraging T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced Network Solutions (ANS) to improve digital equity for its students, advance student success outcomes, increase operational efficiencies and enrich innovative learning experiences.
ANS is best suited for educational institutions looking to bridge the digital divide and provide advanced connected experiences for students.
The university will utilize a 5G Hybrid Mobile Network from T-Mobile as part of its mission to deliver innovative learning experiences for students and improve operational efficiencies through its Digitally Connected Campus initiative. Additionally, it will provide iPad (10th generation) with 5G-connectivity to students, faculty, and certain student-facing staff.
More than 50% of college students nationwide experience problems from unreliable connectivity. To help bridge the digital divide and create equitable opportunities in education, the university will begin to distribute iPad, along with a keyboard case and an unlimited data plan that includes 5G connectivity, during the fall 2023 semester. This means that students — even those who are virtual or living off-campus — can experience the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and the power and performance of the A14 Bionic chip, allowing students to access lectures, materials and app-based learning opportunities from virtually anywhere on the nation’s largest 5G network.
On campus, the 5G Hybrid Network’s fast speeds, low latency and reliable connectivity open the door for more immersive classroom experiences, preparing students to be part of the 5G workforce by:
- Creating mixed reality classroom experiences such as virtualization of complex machinery to teach learners how it operates
- Preparing students for a future in the medical field via lessons on real-world telehealth technologies
- Utilizing digital learning tools such as AI-powered note taking and other classroom interaction software
- Adopting powerful graphics-intensive video game development software to continue the innovation at the university’s award-winning game design program.
Exploring how the 5G Hybrid Network could increase operational efficiencies on-campus, Bradley could use sensor-based data analysis to get automatic updates on information such as water quality, leak detection or refrigeration issues and use that data to automatically address any malfunctions.