Network for Learning upgrades Wi-Fi in over 1,700 NZ schools
The organisation, which is owned by the Crown, is tasked with upgrading Wi-Fi equipment in eligible state and state-integrated schools as part of the Equipment Replacement project, as well as transitioning schools to a new Managed Network. These initiatives are key components of the Ministry of Education's Te Mana Tūhono programme and are being rolled out nationwide.
N4L has now upgraded Wi-Fi technology in over 1,700 schools, which is more than two-thirds of the total project. The project will see approximately 2,500 school networks fitted with new technology, including 17,000 switches and 48,000 access points, that will be supported and managed by N4L. In parallel, the Managed Network Upgrade, launched earlier this year, has migrated 500 schools to date, with all schools and kura expected to be migrated over the following twelve months.
The projects involve cooperation with the Ministry of Education and a network of private sector partners, including technology vendors and local installation partners, to provide schools with updated digital infrastructure. N4L says this is improving internet performance for schools and reducing the technical burden on teaching staff.
Each school receives a customised network solution tailored to its specific needs, including consideration for growing enrolments and changing technology requirements. According to N4L, these improvements allow schools to provide a more reliable and consistent online experience, facilitate digital learning, and support activities such as online examinations.
One of the schools to have benefitted from the programme is Silverdale School, a primary institution north of Auckland with more than 660 students and 75 staff. Principal Cameron Lockie described previous challenges the school faced with internet connectivity and how the new upgrade has addressed these issues. "There was frustration. The kids would try to get onto their devices, and they'd get the spinning wheel of death and not be able to connect to the network. Our lessons get planned around using our Chromebooks, but if you can't get onto the network, it becomes a frustration for everyone. It also means people aren't using those important digital tools. It's a significant financial expense for us to provide all our children with Chromebooks, so we can't have them sitting in a cupboard gathering dust. We needed that network."
Mr Lockie noted that the school's rapid growth contributed to the strain on the existing network infrastructure. Silverdale, which had fewer than 150 pupils in 2006, saw numbers rise to over 660, leading to bandwidth and connectivity limitations.
With the new Wi-Fi system, Silverdale School now reports a more dependable and faster internet connection. According to Mr Lockie, the performance has markedly improved. "For us, there's more consistency. We don't have the downs we had before. In classrooms, it's much better quality and it's reliable."
The next phase for Silverdale and other schools is the migration to N4L's Secure Access service, which is designed to enhance network security by managing access for students, staff, and guests separately and securely. This service is nearing a milestone of 1,000 schools being onboarded.
N4L Chief Executive Larrie Moore commented on the progress of the projects. "N4L is proud to have made such great progress in delivering the Equipment Replacement project and Managed Network upgrades to schools. By delivering next generation technology, we're helping ensure that - big or small, urban or rural - all schools can access faster and more reliable internet, a vital enabler for academic success. We will continue to do the hard mahi to equip schools with modern infrastructure, as well as delivering online safety and security expertise."
Rob Campbell, Deputy Secretary Corporate at the Ministry of Education, underlined the importance of digital learning for New Zealand's schools. "Access to digital learning is now a vital part of school life, and the Ministry of Education's Te Mana Tūhono programme is providing schools with more reliable internet to further that objective. We know it's essential for all schools to be able to provide ākonga with equitable learning opportunities, and that's why this programme of work is so important."
The Equipment Replacement initiative, scheduled for completion in 2027, aims to prepare school networks for current and future needs by deploying Wi-Fi 6 technology and enhancing support services. The Secure Access phase will offer improved network segmentation and authorisation, designed to reduce the risk of security breaches and better protect school and student data.
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