Cisco has signed a multi-year partnership with Georgetown University to modernize the school’s campus network, anchored by what the companies describe as one of the largest-ever university deployments of Wi-Fi 7. The project will expand next-generation wireless coverage across classrooms, dorms, athletic venues, and other facilities on Georgetown’s Hilltop and Capitol campuses, aiming to support rising demand from connected devices, digital learning, research workloads, and day-to-day campus operations.
Under the agreement, Georgetown will deploy Cisco’s Wi-Fi 7 across multiple wireless spectrums, including the 6 GHz band, to increase speeds and reduce latency. The university said the upgraded network is intended to provide “day one” connectivity for students and more reliable tools for faculty and staff, while also enabling researchers working with large datasets and AI-related projects to share, analyze and store data securely from anywhere on campus.
The initiative includes Cisco enterprise switching and wireless infrastructure designed for high-density environments, along with automation and analytics to provide real-time visibility into network performance and usage. Georgetown said it plans to streamline building connectivity by unifying access layer management under Cisco’s unified infrastructure, with a focus on simplifying operations and enabling proactive optimization.
Security is a central element of the network refresh, with Georgetown’s IT teams planning a multi-layer security approach that includes multi-factor authentication, end-to-end network visibility, and security operations analytics, powered by Cisco’s broader security portfolio.
Beyond infrastructure, Cisco will become the presenting partner of Georgetown’s “Hoya Forward” platform, a January programming series that will feature events such as the Hoya Hackathon and center on themes including innovation and preparing students for the future through technology.
Cisco also tied the Georgetown partnership to its recent work with Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns Capital One Arena, the home venue for Georgetown men’s basketball. Cisco said the arena is being upgraded as part of a broader transformation and is powered by a mix of Cisco technologies, including Wi-Fi 7 and other networking and observability solutions.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our community’s academic and research ambitions require a network that is as innovative and forward-looking as they are. This investment ensures our students, faculty, and staff have the seamless, secure connectivity they need to excel in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”
Doug Little, Chief Information Officer, Georgetown University
“In higher education, ‘fast’ is the past—‘instant’ is the future. With one of the largest Wi-Fi 7 deployments in higher education, Georgetown and Cisco are redefining campus connectivity with faster speeds and lower latency for unmatched digital engagement. Together, we’re building an AI-ready foundation to lead and transform educational experiences.”
Gary DePreta, Senior Vice President of U.S. Public Sector, Cisco
