College of Engineering, Pune: Campus-Wide Bandwidth & Access Control
Deploying an all-in-one UniBox controller with built-in AAA, MIS database authentication, MAC binding, and traffic engineering across Asia's oldest engineering institute.
About College of Engineering, Pune (COEP)
College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) is an autonomous engineering institute affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University in Maharashtra, India. Established in 1854 as The Poona Engineering Class and Mechanical School, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious engineering colleges in Asia.
COEP offers 9 Undergraduate and 23 Postgraduate programmes, enrolling over 3,200 students. The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accredited 9 UG programmes with Tier-1 (Washington Accord) status, recognizing its world-class pedagogy and global engineering standards.
With the widespread adoption of smartphones and laptops, COEP required an all-in-one controller to manage 2,500+ daily students, 200+ staff and faculty, and hundreds of daily campus visitors without investing in separate expensive server infrastructure.
Project Profile
Overview, Requirements & Solution
A consolidated executive summary of COEP's wireless network transformation journey with Indio Networks.
Overview
COEP needed to expand its wireless network to provide high-speed, authenticated Wi-Fi access for 2,500+ daily students, 200+ faculty members, and campus visitors across academic wings.
Key Requirements
- All-in-One Controller: Built-in AAA server, captive portal, and bandwidth engine working with existing Cisco APs.
- MIS Database Verification: Authenticate student and staff identities using unique college MIS numbers.
- P2P & Torrent Elimination: Traffic engineering to detect and quarantine bandwidth-hogging sharing apps.
- Fair Usage & URL Filtering: Enforce daily upload/download quotas and block adult/unwanted content.
How We Helped
- Customized COEP-branded Captive Portal residing on-box.
- Implemented automatic MAC binding & 2-step approval.
- Enforced per-user daily bandwidth quotas & speed restrictions.
- Automated P2P/Torrent traffic quarantine & URL blacklist sync.
Operational Challenges & Technical Solutions
Addressing specific institutional requirements with enterprise-grade Indio Networks hardware, software, and cloud architecture.
The Operational Challenges
Key constraints, bottlenecks & network hurdlesLegacy Cisco WLC Limitations
Existing Cisco WLC controller lacked built-in AAA, captive portal customization, student MIS validation, and per-user bandwidth throttling.
Credential Sharing & Unauthenticated Access
Students shared MIS credentials with outsiders, creating security vulnerabilities and network overcrowding.
Bandwidth Congestion via Torrents & P2P
Students using LimeWire, Gnutella, and Torrents hogged internet pipes, crippling academic browsing and digital classroom feeds.
Lack of Activity Tracking for Legal Compliance
No audit log of user browsing activities or automated reporting existed to comply with government cyber compliance norms.
The Indio Solution
Tailored architecture, controller features & managementAll-in-One UniBox Controller
UniBox integrated built-in AAA, captive portal, and bandwidth controls seamlessly with COEP's complex VLAN network and existing Cisco APs.
Automatic MAC Binding & MIS Validation
Integrated directly with COEP's student MIS database. Automatically binds registered devices so students don't re-enter credentials on recognized hardware.
Traffic Engineering & P2P Quarantine
Advanced traffic inspector identifies Torrent and file-sharing protocols in real time, automatically isolating abusive nodes from the network.
URL Blacklisting & Automated Audit Logs
Blocks mature/adult URLs via periodic database sync and maintains anonymous Web/IPDR activity logs for executive monthly reporting.
Implementation Journey
Indio Networks deployed UniBox within COEP's existing infrastructure, leveraging existing Cisco access points to deliver an immediate, cost-effective campus solution with zero recurring licensing fees.
Seamless & Turnkey
Engineered for high availability, zero disruption to ongoing operations, and centralized cloud monitoring.
Phase 1: VLAN Network Integration & Cisco AP Mapping
Connected UniBox to COEP's core switches and routed existing campus Cisco AP traffic through UniBox without hardware replacement.
Phase 2: MIS Database & 2-Step Approval Integration
Synced UniBox AAA engine with COEP student/staff MIS records and configured admin-approved two-step device registration.
Phase 3: Bandwidth Quota & Traffic Engineering Rules
Configured daily download quotas per student, priority pipes for faculty, and active P2P/Torrent packet sniffing filters.
Phase 4: Guest Prepaid Access & Compliance Reporting
Launched coupon login for campus visitors and activated automated monthly bandwidth utilization and IPDR audit reports.
Project Results & Business Value
The implementation of Indio Networks' solution delivered tangible performance gains, reduced operational overhead, and elevated user satisfaction.
Daily Students Connected
Seamless concurrent authentication across academic departments and student hostels.
Bandwidth Waste Eliminated
Unwanted downloads and Torrent congestion dropped drastically within the first 30 days.
MIS & MAC Authenticated
Strict identity binding eliminated password sharing and unauthorized guest access.
Recurring License Fees
Leveraged existing Cisco hardware with zero ongoing annual subscription overhead.
"Within a month, unwanted bandwidth consumption came down drastically. Students and staff reported improved browsing speed once fair usage and daily quota restrictions were in place. UniBox substantially reduced IT staff workload."
COEP IT Administration
College of Engineering, PuneProducts & Technologies Deployed
Enterprise-grade Indio Networks hardware, software controllers, and cloud management solutions deployed for this project.
UniBox All-in-One Controller
Integrated AAA server, captive portal, bandwidth engine, and firewall designed for multi-VLAN campus networks.
Explore UniBoxTraffic Engineering & P2P Filter
Deep packet inspection module identifying Torrent protocols and quarantining unauthorized sharing traffic in real time.
Campus Wi-FiMIS Database Integration
Direct integration with institutional databases for automatic MAC verification, student onboarding, and guest coupon management.
Learn More