Case Study: California State University (CSU) achieves $30M in potential savings and rightsized campus networks with HPE Aruba Networking

California State University System Utilizes Aruba to Rightsize Campus Networks, Identifies Potential $30M Savings

The California State University (CSU) system — a 23‑campus network serving roughly half a million students, faculty and staff — faced a massive, cost‑sensitive wired refresh. Technology Infrastructure Services measured port usage and discovered more than half of wired ports went unused, meaning a full wired replacement would be complex and prohibitively expensive unless the approach was rethought.

CSU ran an RFI and objective evaluations and selected Aruba’s WLAN (802.11n‑capable access points, centralized controllers, AirWave management and security modules) to “rightsize” the refresh by replacing only actively used wired ports and shifting many users to wireless. The deployment simplified operations and management, enabled scalable campus coverage, prompted a near fivefold increase in network usage on many campuses, and yielded about $30 million in avoided refresh costs plus ongoing energy, maintenance and environmental benefits.

California State University (CSU)

Michel Davidoff

Director of Cyberinfrastructure Services