Every post-primary school in the country now has high speed broadband connections as a result of a €30 million, three-year programme rolled out on behalf of the Government by HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network.
A total of 780 schools now have 100mb/s broadband connections which will serve as a catalyst for the further integration of ICT and digital skills in the classroom.
The national roll-out followed a pilot phase in 2010 when a first tranche of 78 schools nationwide were connected to the HEAnet network. A decision to expand the programme to all 780 schools was announced in February of 2012.
The programme was funded by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources and the Department of Education & Skills, supported by Ireland’s EU Structural Funds Programme and the European Regional Development Fund.
“HEAnet is very pleased to have successfully delivered this programme on behalf of the Irish Government and Irish post-primary schools,” said John Boland, HEAnet chief executive.
“Delivering high-speed broadband to every post-primary school in the country has involved digging streets, laying fibre cable, erecting masts and radio dishes, and installing network equipment across the length and breadth of the country. Schools have played their part in preparing for the installation of the service, with higher education institutions facilitating access to their campuses to enable delivery of cost-effective services to schools in regional areas.”
The programme was completed in co-operation of AirSpeed Telecom, Digiweb (Viatel), eircom, enet, Imagine Communications, UPC, Vodafone, Agile Networks and the ESB.
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