October 8, 2025 | Grand Forks, ND

Enhanced wireless experience now extends across entire UND campus, boosting connectivity in key academic and research areas

Boldyn Networks and the University of North Dakota (UND) have completed the second and final phase of a comprehensive network transformation, extending high-density wireless coverage across the entire campus. Boldyn and UND teamed together as part of the university’s NetX: Elevating Connectivity initiative, wherein it completely reimagined its network architecture - specifically tailored to meet its long-term needs.

Following the successful upgrade of residence hall wireless connectivity in 2024, this latest phase significantly expands UND’s network infrastructure. Boldyn made use of existing equipment to deploy new technologies - including two next-generation firewalls – all while maintaining operational continuity. Phase 2 brings robust, secure wireless connectivity to all academic buildings, research centers, and key facilities like the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, UND Flight School at the Grand Forks International Airport, and other core learning environments.

“The University of North Dakota is a place of innovation and ambition that is firing on all cylinders.” said Matt Loecke, Executive Vice President, Boldyn Networks for Higher Education. “Our goal was to ensure the campus had the network backbone to match that spirit - from high-density student housing to the instrumental academic and research buildings.”

Strong results and tangible impact

The results from Phase 1 of the rollout, modernizing ResNet for all 10 residential halls on campus, set a strong precedent. This year upon student move-in, UND saw a dramatic reduction in wireless-related support tickets, with minimal reports of connectivity issues at help desks across campus. The network's reliability significantly reduced the number of on-site IT personnel needed during the high-demand back-to-school period, streamlining operations and enhancing student satisfaction.

"When we set out to modernize our housing network, our priority was clear: students should have an experience on par with—or better than—what they have at home,” said Madhavi Marasinghe, Associate Vice President and CIO, University of North Dakota. “The new ResNet has delivered exactly that. That’s the kind of foundation we want for their UND journey."

Seamless expansion across campus

Building on that success, Phase 2 rolled out building-by-building, ensuring minimal disruption. Special attention was paid to coverage density and reliability in essential academic buildings, where downtime is not an option. From pilot training sessions at the UND Flight School to clinical research at the medical school, faculty, students, and researchers now enjoy consistently high-performance connectivity.

The results of Boldyn’s work and UND’s NetX initiative lay the groundwork for long-term benefits for the university, including:

• Faster, more reliable access on UND-Secured, with easier onboarding for students, faculty, and staff
• Improved UND-Guest Wi-Fi, featuring a streamlined user portal for visitors with access limited only to the internet
• A dedicated ResNet network for residence halls, offering better security, performance, and compliance
• Doubling the wireless access points in ResNet, significantly expanding coverage in residential areas
• Centralized management and automation, enabling faster response and greater flexibility
• Significant projected savings over the next 10 years in network management costs

“Across the campus, our goal was to ensure that UND’s network is robust, secure, and flexible enough to meet the growing digital needs of a major research university,” said Marasinghe. “Whether it’s in the classroom, the flight deck, or the medical lab, our students, faculty, and researchers can now rely on a consistent, high-performance network to power innovation and discovery."

With the core transformation now complete, Boldyn Networks and the University of North Dakota will continue their work together to support future campus expansion and ensure UND remains a fully connected, forward-looking institution.