Glide are the first student broadband specialist to offer gigabit broadband to student accommodation. 350,000 students across the UK could benefit from gigabit broadband connections creating future-proof Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) for the next generation. Best of all, Glide Gigabit is available now.
Background
Since 2010 we have been building and investing in the Glide National Network as a key component of our customer-centric approach to raise standards and expectations for both students and operators of student accommodation. Owning and controlling both the smart infrastructure installed on site and the physical infrastructure comprising the Glide National Network ensures Glide can deliver Glide Gigabit broadband.
The network has grown massively in the last few years, but we’re aiming for more. We’re investing heavily, tripling the size to deliver a 10x speed boost, which means more capacity in more locations and now a landmark product to differentiate any student accommodation property.
UK student accommodation has seen record levels of investment with property developers providing student accommodation (PBSA) in every major city with great locations, hotel-type amenities and easy transport links to universities. The extra choice brings competition amongst accommodation operators - competition on price, location, entertainment and student experience. Glide Gigabit presents a unique opportunity for UK operators to leap ahead of the competition with the right brand of student experience and best-in-class student broadband.
Glide Gigabit is the gold standard for delivering hyper-fast, full fibre to students living and studying in the UK. We are proud to provide best in class service and support the leaders of the future - they deserve nothing less.
Dependency on fast, reliable, pervasive and high-speed Wi-Fi will only increase as students need higher bandwidth. As entertainment services like 8K streaming and virtual reality gaming become mainstream and previously local services move into the cloud, all will require significantly more bandwidth. Glide Gigabit empowers students to take advantage of the latest consumer technology and explore high bandwidth learning and research without limitations.
Operators need future-proofing
Moving into Purpose Built Student Accommodation is a lifestyle choice. Modern PBSA should not just deliver spaces to sleep in – they should be environments that inspire and enhance the lifestyle of the student. Gigabit broadband is a vision of the future that can be delivered today.
Students raised on smartphones depend on technology. Almost all plan on attending university and a further 73% rank high speed internet as the most important feature of their accommodation. In this competitive new market, Glide Gigabit is the perfect way for operators to differentiate their properties and maintain 100% occupancy and profitability.
On a typical day, student accommodation operators see hundreds of thousands of connected user devices. By making building connectivity and infrastructure future-proof, student accommodation developers and building operators can meet their objective - they can continue to be at the forefront of constantly shifting technologies and focus on meeting the demands of a modern high bandwidth student community.
In addition, students studying in the UK are increasingly international in their background and arrive in the UK with very different expectations. Gigabit broadband matches any broadband speed across the globe. Some students will be well travelled and street smart while others will be away from home for the first time – but all will require logistical and emotional support and all will depend on Wi-Fi to get it.
Many operators are using hotel-type amenities, transport links and location to attract the next generation of students. Students are early adopters of technology and with the evolution of technology like cloud gaming, virtual reality entertainment and 8K video streaming gigabit broadband is the next step in student experience powered by technology.
Analysing and storing building information could be done locally but as the demand for accessibility increases, reporting and analysis will also increasingly be performed in the cloud. Appropriate connectivity and infrastructure needs to be installed to support Wi-Fi dependent students but increasingly, to gather vast amounts of data and to provide operational analysis in the cloud.
Student Wi-Fi without limits. Learning without boundaries and limitless potential.
As early-adopters of technology and the high net-worth individuals of the future, students are the strongest indicator of what is expected of technology in the future. Many are the high networth leaders and entrepreneurs of the future. It is the duty of those involved in shaping student experience to provide no barriers to learning and no boundaries to ambition. If the establishment doesn't start to evolve they will miss out on the next generation of student bookings and applications.
But a gigabit connection is not only about faster download speeds for leisure activities - many university courses require students to have access to hyperfast internet in order to stream lectures, upload and transfer large files (especially for students in the arts and technology fields) as well as giving operators the opportunity to future-proof their properties.
A conservative estimate is that an 8K movie will be five hundred gigabytes. To download an 8K movie on a gigabit connection would take just over an hour. A two gigabyte HD movie would take just 16 seconds. Glide Gigabit ensures student broadband expectations are met for the foreseeable future and provides a service for which almost any media format is downloaded in seconds.
Glide National Network
In summary, Glide’s innovative and cost-effective approach to delivering Wi-Fi across the UK using our own fibre network means more ownership and control and more freedom and ownership to deliver almost limitless speed like Glide Gigabit. New customers benefit from an established and robust infrastructure and with comprehensive UK coverage, the chances are that a new property is close to the Glide National Network, keeping connection costs down.
Managed Internet Service for University and Student Accommodation
Enhance your students’ online experience with better Wi-Fi for student accommodation. From in depth monthly service reports, annual reviews, marketing materials to a student friendly Service Desk and onsite support, Glide will provide everything you need for a fully reliable managed internet service for both you and your students.
Wi-Fi for Student Accommodation
Students want to be constantly connected, wherever they are. Glide’s best in class intelligent pervasive Wi-Fi means that students can enjoy a seamless internet connection across their multiple devices wherever they are in their student accommodation. Plus, all the support they need.
Get in touch with a member of our team to find out about our fully managed internet service. Call us on 03333 800 800 or drop us an email at glidestudent@glide.co.uk, or find out more details on our website.
