SCHOOLS 100MBIT/S HIGH-SPEED NETWORK

HEAnet has been appointed to act as network managers of a new high-speed connectivity programme that will deliver 100 Mbit/s network capacities to all post-primary schools across Ireland by 2012.

This new high-speed schools programme is being sponsored by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) in pursuit of their high-speed connectivity ambitions as set out in their Next Generation Broadband Policy Paper of June 2009:

“Connectivity to schools, in particular, will benefit from the Government’s investment in broadband infrastructure. We aim to equip second-level schools in Ireland with 100 Mbps of broadband connectivity and Local Area Networks (LAN) on a phased basis. This will enable students to learn and collaborate online.”

Source: Next Generation Policy Paper (www.dcenr.gov.ie)

The appointment of HEAnet in this regard serves to leverage public investment in the HEAnet education and research network to date, while also allowing synergies and operational efficiencies to be explored with regard to HEAnet’s current operation of the Schools Broadband Network which continues to deliver broadband connectivity to all 4,000 (approx.) schools across Ireland.

In leveraging this investment, DCENR and HEAnet are very grateful to those HEAnet client members that are facilitating access to their campus locations and thus enabling delivery of cost-effective backhaul to schools from regional areas.

The initial contract(s) under this programme shall deliver 100 Mbit/s symmetrical broadband connectivity to 78 post-primary school locations within the scope of a pilot project. The 78 school locations represent a mix of schools in urban and rural areas and have been agreed by the Programme Steering Committee, with the objective of delivering specific learning objectives under this pilot project.

In addition to 100Mbit/s connectivity, schools will receive an edge router managed by HEAnet and access to the Internet will continue to be filtered (as is the policy under the current wider Schools Broadband Programme). DCENR will also deliver Wireless LAN and ICT equipment (laptops and projectors) to each of the 78 schools in the initial pilot phase.

Former Minister Eamon Ryan launching the new 100 Mbit/s High Speed Schools Network at St Colmcille's Community School, Knocklyon, Dublin, October 2010.

Read the press release here.