Category: Activity Reports

In a very friendly and constructive conversation with the new head of the Housing Department, we learned yesterday that the Studierendenwerk currently only refers to the FAQ on its website when it comes to information about the Netz-AK and internet access in the dorms.

That is not much and does not match the agreements we made with the Studierendenwerk a few years ago.

In the future, there will again be an information sheet from us included with the rental contract, explaining where to find information and how to contact us.

Instead of just one of the many papers you get when you move in, you can also find us via posters in the dormitory hallways.

For the winter semester 2024, the Studierendenwerk had offered to design new posters for us and put them up in the dorms. The new design looks much better and more professional than our old green posters, which needed to be replaced.

However, in most of the dorms we visited, the new posters were not there. We also didn’t get confirmation from the Studierendenwerk that they were successfully put up. They assumed that the missing dorms would follow step by step.

So far, replacing the old green posters through the Studierendenwerk has mostly not been successful.

We are therefore ending the action “posters in all dorms for the winter semester by the Studierendenwerk” as unsuccessful in July 2025.

We have now created our own new posters based on the Studierendenwerk’s design and started putting them up ourselves.

Because of the missing information, many residents were not able to make full use of the internet connection available to them in the dorm.

Most people who contact us because of Wi-Fi problems use routers we have been advising against for years in our totorials. Only a small number of residents in dorms that already have gigabit internet use a router that can even make use of more than 10% of that speed.

We see a lot of potential to improve the flow of information in the future, thanks to some changes already made at the Studierendenwerk. That way, you can really enjoy what is probably the best internet connection you will privately use in the next ten years.

Since July 2025, it’s official: Netz-AK Tübingen is a registered and recognized non-profit association. This means we’ve not only finalized our statutes, but also laid the organizational foundation to continue our work in a stable and reliable way.

Behind the association is a team focused on technology, networking, and digital infrastructure in Tübingen’s student residences – with expertise, commitment, and a clear focus on transparency and participation.

If you’re curious how we’re organized, how to get involved, or what we’re planning, you can find all the details here: Netz-AK Tübingen e.V.

Please note: All official information regarding the association will likely remain in German, as the legal framework for associations is defined in German law – and there is currently little demand for an English version in this context.

The Network Working Group (Netz-AK) was founded in 2004 to improve the often unreliable internet in the student dorms at Fichtenweg. Back then, there was no proper network management. A few student tutors paid by the Studierendenwerk were responsible, but it didn’t work very well.

The dorms at Fichtenweg were likely connected by fiber optic cables already in the 1970s, as this was modern technology at the time.

The dorms on the Wanne hill were connected early on to what we call the WHO network – named after the Waldhäuser Ost area and its network.

At first, Netz-AK only worked in the WHO area. Later, a few small locations were added: one volunteer at Hartmeyerstraße and four to five volunteers in buildings of the former Hindenburg military base (now in the French Quarter), which were connected to the network after renovations in 2006.

After the student unions of Tübingen and Hohenheim merged, the network supported by Netz-AK grew significantly in 2014. It now covered a large area from Geislingen an der Steige through Hohenheim, Nürtingen, Reutlingen, and Tübingen to Albstadt and Sigmaringen. The number of managed connections increased from around 3,000 in Tübingen to over 5,500.

Even though we expected the team to grow with the network, the opposite happened – the team got smaller. The original WHO team was only joined by one member from the French Quarter. Still, we managed to keep the network running for over ten years with very limited resources.

Since 2022, things have improved thanks to internal changes at the Studierendenwerk. For the first time in years, we were able to do more than just keep things running.

We finally got the chance to make overdue purchases. We now also have access to the teilAuto car-sharing system.

Our cooperation with the Studierendenwerk’s IT department has improved a lot, and the new leadership is very supportive.

Our team in Tübingen has grown and now includes more active students again.

Since 2023, we’ve also been taking part in the annual Student Network Meetings (SNTs) again.

In 2024, we gained an active member in Hohenheim. In 2025, someone joined us in Albstadt.

In 2023 and 2024, we tested new hardware, which we finally decided to buy in 2025. The Studierendenwerk has now completed the purchase.

We also made many smaller but important improvements: we set up basic network monitoring, improved our backup strategy, and introduced a ticket system for support requests. All of this makes our work much easier.

In 2023, we founded our own association. We expect it to be officially recognized as a non-profit organization soon. At the same time, we are finalizing an agreement with the Studierendenwerk that will define our future cooperation.

Starting in June 2025, we will begin the final big step: installing the new hardware in the remaining 100 buildings. Two buildings have already been completed. About 275 switches still need to be installed.

For this, we urgently need more helpers. Even short-term help is very valuable and supports a network built for the future.

If you want to join us long-term, there are many exciting projects waiting. We can now finally start bringing Wi-Fi to the kitchen areas. We are also planning to introduce IPv6 and restructure the subnet system. Any kind of support is welcome.

There are also great opportunities for those who want to dive deeper: for example, by organizing workshops to teach other students about how our network works. Or by running your own nerdy research projects in computer networking and sharing your findings with the group.