SPH embarks on digital transformation journey that delivers on seamless connectivity, security and differentiated user experiences

Digital transformation is a top priority for Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) while evolving alongside changing consumer habits, but legacy technology systems could not support its forward-thinking vision.

“We are moving into the new digital future, not only through the way we deliver news, but through constant self-evaluation and innovation to build the workplace of the future” explains Glen Francis, Chief Technology Officer. “It was time for a technology refresh.”

Vision towards a digital-first business with Aruba solutions

For SPH, the workplace of the future is dynamic and thus pivoting into a digital-first business is a logical step towards that vision. “Our core business is the news business,” says Francis. “That makes an agile, fast and secure network an imperative in keeping our customers connected 24/7 to the latest happenings and accurate information.”

“Previous network management capabilities were limited owing to siloed monitoring tools,” notes Christopher Lim, Head of Tech Operations in Infrastructure & Cloud. “This was becoming a cause for concern as visibility over thousands of users, devices and applications had decreased over the years.”

Given the need for robust network management, Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, was chosen amidst stringent cost and technology analysis, to help SPH create a better-connected and futureproof workplace for its employees.

Modernising Wired and Wireless Connections

Previously, SPH had fewer Access Points and the network coverage in particular areas were weak along with a few dead zones, where there was no connectivity. This made it difficult for greater mobility for employees even though mission-critical areas were ensured the strongest network signals and reliability.

Further, because news publications are time-sensitive, it meant that the work of journalists is affected when network downtime occurs.

Lim notes the reliance on wired infrastructure with Wi-Fi only a secondary consideration. “As technological needs evolved, we began to feel the redundancies of legacy systems. For example, video-conferencing experiences were unsatisfactory, and print staff had to rely on wired cables as wireless connection was poor.”

Identifying network pain points with AirWave insights

SPH leveraged Aruba AirWave to monitor the performance of wired and wireless networks, and was able to pinpoint network health issues, particularly channel over-subscriptions and coverage issues with legacy Access Points.

Coupled with Aruba UXI sensors, user experience was also closely monitored in real time, and effectively pinpointed the main sources of connectivity issues, such as the 2.4Ghz channels being over-utilised. This enabled SPH to quickly address the issue by steering away from 2.4Ghz, improving user experience.

“AirWave provided detailed health and analytics dashboards to monitor critical applications and services,” says Lim. “Through real-time visibility of devices and switches, as well as traffic analysis across the entire network, we were able to identify what was not working.”

Enriching staff mobility and agility with Wi-Fi 6

Once core pain points were resolved, Aruba Access Points, Aruba Mobility Master and Aruba Controllers were rolled out on top of Aruba UXI sensors to strengthen network coverage and performance at all corners of SPH premises and beyond.

On-premise roaming saw big improvements while Wi-Fi bandwidth provisions doubled from 64 to 128 Mbps. Around 500 Aruba’s Wi-Fi 6 certified Access Points were deployed which reliably connected to four times more devices and managed them better while maintaining power efficiency, ensuring adequate network support.

“Aruba stood out as the richness of their solutions were just what we were looking for in upgrading our network,” says Lim. “We were an early adopter of Wi-Fi 6 standards, as Aruba’s mix of solutions were one of the few which passed industry standards then.”

Transforming wireless experience for the distributed workforce

During the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 90% of SPH employees were working remotely while the remaining 10% are designated as an essential workforce and continued to work within SPH’s premises.

Meetings and collaboration are held virtually over video conference calls and workplace social tools. The need for a seamless transition between mobile and desktop experiences is critical in helping employees stay connected.

“Our journalists utilise a mix of cloud and on-premise solutions to work, as they have to be out on the field to source for news,” Lim elaborates.

Flexible coverage in the campus center

Mobility is also key within the SPH main campus, which stretches for 54,000 sqm. This network upgrade also covers the offices within Print Centre, which has a total area of 100,000 sqm. The increasing density in certain areas of the office also required a high-performance network to support this change.

Aruba Access Points, Mobility Master and Controllers were implemented across SPH premises for more comprehensive and flexible coverage. “Wi-Fi coverage has greatly expanded beyond certain points on campus to wider locations, where employees can stay connected as they roam from one point to another,” says Lim.

Role-based access control with Aruba ClearPass

As more IoT devices connect to its network, SPH realized that multiple configuration tools and authentication servers introduce risks which can be hard to detect, diagnose and rectify.

SPH tapped on Aruba ClearPass for its ability to centrally enforce granular policies based on user access profile, device type or location. This role-based access control was extended to company-issued and contractor-owned devices which enhanced visibility of endpoints that are connected to SPH’s network.

“It builds a dynamic, secure and intelligent edge with roles that follow users and devices across multiple platforms - wired, wireless and remote connections,” Lim says. “It allowed journalists to safely upload photographs, videos and voice recordings to the cloud no matter where they were.”

A Future-Ready Infrastructure Roadmap with ESP

Delivering a flexible, high-performing, and secure network has helped SPH maintain and cement its position as a leading multi-media company.

“Aruba’s forward-thinking infrastructure is a perfect fit in powering our forward-thinking vision,” says Francis. “It builds a solid foundation for SPH to continue delivering better products for customers, simplifying technology for business users, and developing new capabilities.”

SPH is also looking to use Aruba Central and Edge Services Platform to gain further insights into its network use and better utilise the data generated at the Edge. “We have never been more confident and well-prepared to move into the new digital future,” Lim concludes.