Internet and IT Infrastructure

The request was partially successful.

Dear University of Gloucestershire,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 may I kindly request the following information about the University’s internet and IT infrastructure:

1. How much did the university spend on broadband in the 2019/20 financial year?
2. Who is your internet network provider?
3. What is the average network speed on each of your campuses? Please list the name of each campus and the internet speed for each. Here is a tool for testing speed if needed: https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/speedt...
4. What percentage of each university campus is covered by wifi? Please list the name of each campus and the percentage of wifi coverage.
5. Between January 2015 and December 2020, how many times have you switched network providers?
6. How many broadband routers do you have across all campus buildings?
7. Do you have fibre-optic broadband in any campus buildings?
8. Do any of the university-owned halls of residence require an ethernet cable as opposed to wifi? If yes, please list the names of the halls of residence.
9. Do any of the university-owned halls of residence have the option to connect to both an ethernet cable and wifi? If yes, please list the names of the halls of residence.
10. Do you have a data destruction policy?
11. Between January 2015 and December 2020, how many student complaints has the university received relating to the “internet”, “WiFi” and “broadband”? Please list the number of complaints per calendar year.

Please could I receive all information in electronic format and in machine-readable formats where applicable.

Yours faithfully,
Ellen Blacow

Freedom of Information, University of Gloucestershire

Dear Ellen,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information received on 04 January 2021.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), we anticipate responding to your request for information within 20 working days.

However, whilst the University will endeavour to deal with your information rights request at the earliest opportunity and within the statutory FOIA timescales, please be aware that your request may experience understandable delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, as University resources may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work in response to these unprecedented circumstances. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

If we are unable to respond within the timescale outlined in the FOIA, we will contact you to discuss an extension to time.

If you have any queries regarding this information, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Ruth Neal
--
Ruth Neal
Information Governance Manager
^University of Gloucestershire
Governance and Secretariat Services
The Park, Cheltenham, GL50 2RH

Tel: 01242 714140
E-mail: [email address]
Web: www.glos.ac.uk

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Freedom of Information, University of Gloucestershire

Dear Ellen, 

  

Freedom of Information Act 2000 

Information Request 

  

Thank you for your request for information from the University of
Gloucestershire received on 04 January 2021. 

 

Your request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(FOIA).  

 

Please find below The University’s response to your request. 

 

1.How much did the university spend on broadband in the 2019/20 financial
year? 

I can confirm that the University does hold this information.  However, on
this occasion, after careful consideration the University is withholding
it under Section 43(2) of the FOIA due to its commercial sensitivity.   

 

“Section 43(2) exempts information whose disclosure would, or would be
likely to, prejudice the commercial interest of any person (an individual,
a company, the public authority itself or any legal entity” 

 

The UK Higher Education sector is a highly competitive environment and in
order to compete with UK and international universities, the University
must ensure that information that would be strategically useful to its
competitors is not placed in the public domain. 

Public Interest Test   

The application of this exemption requires an examination of the public
interest in disclosure as opposed to that in non-disclosure. Whilst the
University recognises that there is a legitimate public interest in
knowing the amount and way in which public funds are spent in this
respect, both to further the transparency and accountability of public
authority activities. We would similarly acknowledge that there is also a
public interest in protecting the ability of institutions to compete on a
level playing field. To disclose the requested information would be likely
to prejudice this institution’s competitive and commercial position, and
this would not be in the public interest. On balance, therefore, we
believe the public interest lies in withholding the requested
information. 

 

2.Who is your internet network provider? 

Jisc 

3. What is the average network speed on each of your campuses? Please list
the name of each campus and the internet speed for each.  

Average Internet speed at each Campus is 200 Mbps 

4. What percentage of each university campus is covered by wifi? Please
list the name of each campus and the percentage of wifi coverage.  

90-95% 

5. Between January 2015 and December 2020, how many times have you
switched network providers?  

Zero 

6. How many broadband routers do you have across all campus buildings?  

One 

7. Do you have fibre-optic broadband in any campus buildings?  

Yes 

8. Do any of the university-owned halls of residence require an ethernet
cable as opposed to wifi? If yes, please list the names of the halls of
residence. 

Wifi and wired internet is available in all University owned halls of
residence. 

9. Do any of the university-owned halls of residence have the option to
connect to both an ethernet cable and wifi? If yes, please list the names
of the halls of residence.  

Yes, all university owned halls of residence have the option to connect to
both an ethernet cable and wifi. 

10. Do you have a data destruction policy?  

Yes, we have an IT Recycling & Disposal Policy 

11. Between January 2015 and December 2020, how many student complaints
has the university received relating to the “internet”, “WiFI” and
“broadband”? Please list the number of complaints per calendar year. 

2015 - Zero 

2016 - Zero 

2017 – Zero 

2018 - I can confirm that the University of Gloucestershire does hold the
information requested above.  However, we are withholding it as we
consider Section 40 (2) & (3) – personal information of the FOIA applies. 
This information is classified as personal data, and relates to five or
fewer individuals, consequently there is a strong possibility that this
data could identify an individual and divulge their personal information. 
As a result of disclosure, the University would be at risk of breaching
the First and Second Principles of the UK General Data Protection
Regulation. 

2019 – 6 

2020 - 12 

 

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request a review, no later than 40 working days from the
date of this response by contacting the University by email at: 

  

[1][email address

 

or by post to: 

 

Registrar’s Directorate
University of Gloucestershire
Fullwood House
Park Campus
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2RH 

 

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: 

  

The Information Commissioner's Office, 

Wycliffe House, 

Water Lane, 

Wilmslow, 

Cheshire, SK9 5AF.  

Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45             

Website: www.ico.gov.uk    

 

There is no charge for making an appeal.  

 

If you have any questions regarding this information, then please do not
hesitate to contact me.  

 

Yours sincerely 

  

Ruth 

 

Ruth Neal 

Information Governance Manager 

Registrar’s Directorate 

University of Gloucestershire 

Fullwood House 

The Park 

Cheltenham 

GL50 2RH 

T: 01242 714140 

W: glos.ac.uk 

 

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