N4L and Vector join forces to improve schools’ internet service

More than 50 Auckland schools will be able to start using N4L’s Managed Network sooner, thanks to an agreement that sees the Crown company using Vector’s fibre network as part of its national rollout.

Yesterday’s agreement with Vector means that N4L and its partner, Spark, are able to use Vector’s existing infrastructure, reducing costs and minimising disruption to schools.

Schools currently using Vector fibre can now begin transitioning to N4L’s Managed Network and benefit from the government-funded services that are part of the Managed Network programme. In addition to fast, uncapped internet running at predictable speeds, this includes web safety and security tools, as well as a number of support services especially designed to help schools gain the most from technology.

N4L CEO John Hanna says it is important to collaborate with independent fibre providers like Vector to expand the Managed Network to all corners of the country.

“It is really encouraging to see everyone working together to achieve the best outcomes for young people,” Mr Hanna said.

It’s about ensuring every student throughout the country has the same opportunities for learning that are presented by having unlimited access to fast- quality internet, as well as the support services that come along with that.

Murrays Bay Intermediate on Auckland’s North Shore will be among the first Vector-fibred schools to transition to the Managed Network. Principal Colin Dale said the Managed Network would give the school’s 1000-plus students the opportunity to use as much bandwidth as they need for their digital learning journey, which began three years ago.

“For us, it means taking the handbrake off and we can continue on our journey to become a truly future-focused school. We have been heavy users of online learning programmes and we were getting to a stage where we couldn’t continue at this pace and do all that we wanted to because we had outgrown our internet package,” Mr Dale said.

Most of the Vector-fibred schools are on Auckland’s North Shore. The other schools are in different parts of Auckland and include Epsom Girls Grammar.

The agreement with Vector follows successful arrangements with other commercial fibre providers throughout the country.

To date, more than 2050 schools are on the Managed Network. This represents more than 80 per cent of all New Zealand schools, with 90 per cent of the country’s schools expected to be connected to the Managed Network by the end of the year.

An interactive map of all participating schools can be viewed at: http://www.n4l.co.nz/managednetwork/rollout/.