N4L’s managed network a finalist for two awards

N4L’s Managed Network has been selected as a finalist for the Australia and New Zealand Internet Awards (ANZIAs) and the AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards.

ANZ Internet Awards

The Managed Network is a finalist in the Access & Digital Skills category. N4L is one of four finalists, two from Australia and two from New Zealand. This year the awards will be hosted in Auckland, with winners announced on August 27.

A collaboration between Internet NZ and Australian Domain Administration (auDA), the ANZIAs recognise organisations, businesses and individuals that excel in delivering accessible, innovative, informative and secure resources to a diverse and wide community, on the internet – both in Australia and New Zealand.

AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards

Recognised for excellence in the Government category, N4L will join finalists across nine other categories at this year’s awards. Now into their 10th year, the AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards are a national performance measure for New Zealand business support organisations. AUT Business awards winners will be named on 29 October.

More than half a million students and teachers across New Zealand are now using N4L’s Managed Network to support their learning, with schools continuing to connect to the government-funded service well ahead of schedule. These numbers include more than 525,000 students and 37,000 teachers from 1720+ schools (nearly 70 per cent of all New Zealand schools).

Built to accommodate 800,000+ users, the Managed Network provides fast and predictable internet with uncapped data; web filtering and network security services. This includes firewall services, performance monitoring and a full helpdesk support service. Schools are funded for their connection packages.

The company has signed more than 2000 contracts with schools to initiate services, with more than 90 per cent registering to use the Managed Network when it is available to them. An interactive map of all participating N4L schools can be viewed here, with all schools being able to connect by the end of next year.

“Feedback from schools, the government, media and our tech partners has been overwhelmingly positive,” CEO John Hanna says.

“Surveys reveal 94 per cent of the education sector is satisfied or very satisfied with their transition to the Managed Network and the support they’ve received from our helpdesk.”

Mr Hanna says the Managed Network’s design does not exist within any other sector of New Zealand, and research conducted prior to its build suggests the implementation process may be a world-first.

“It’s about supporting schools transitioning to more technology-based learning environments, helping ensure their students can benefit from technology to achieve their best now to prepare them for their future, no matter where they go to school in New Zealand.”

This has been a big year of awards recognition for the Crown-owned company. Last month, N4L’s online learning hub Pond won the Hi-Tech Award for the most “innovative initiative.”