4 days ago
Network for Learning marks milestone in school network upgrades
The Network for Learning (N4L) says it has reached a key milestone in the rollout of its Managed Network Upgrade, with almost a third of all schools and kura across Aotearoa New Zealand now benefiting from new internet infrastructure.
Fully funded for state and state-integrated schools and kura, the upgrades have so far been delivered to 750 schools. N4L says the work is a significant step in its plan to provide faster, safer and more secure digital learning environments for students and educators nationwide.
For the first time, the new Managed Network allows N4L to operate as a virtual internet service provider, managing delivery directly to schools. This, the organisation says, enables services to be provided "more efficiently, more affordably, and with greater responsiveness than ever before."
The upgrade programme involves replacing school firewalls before they reach end-of-life and switching to a new internet connection. All schools are scheduled to complete the upgrade before mid-2026.
Last year, Palo Alto Networks Ltd and 2degrees Mobile Ltd were awarded long-term contracts as key partners in delivering the upgrade, following a competitive procurement process aimed at achieving best value for money for the Crown.
One of the upgraded schools is Wellington's Island Bay School, a primary school with 340 students. Principal Deborah Fenton says the process was handled smoothly.
"On the day, there was very little impact on us, so N4L did a really good job," she says. "The upgrade happened in a single afternoon. N4L knew the times of day we needed to do important things, so they were able to flex to our needs and choose the most insignificant time of the school day to do it."
Fenton says she particularly values the safety and security services provided by N4L.
"One of the biggest things that N4L provides is helping protect our ākonga from accessing things like websites and social media, which is a really amazing service to have in a school. Helping us keep kids protected is the number one thing N4L does really well."
N4L chief executive Larrie Moore says completing the upgrade of more than 750 schools is "a significant milestone" in its goal of providing "next-generation, fit-for-purpose, digital infrastructure" to schools and kura nationwide.
"All schools, big or small, urban or rural, will be able to have access to enterprise-grade internet and cybersecurity, ensuring high-quality, fit-for-purpose digital services that best support modern teaching and learning," Moore says. "This hard mahi is allowing schools to concentrate on what matters most: teaching and learning."
Rob Campbell, Hautū Te Pou Rangatōpū | Deputy Secretary Corporate at the Ministry of Education, says the milestone reflects the strength of the ministry's partnership with N4L.
"Ensuring all schools and kura have access to safe and resilient digital infrastructure is a key priority for the Ministry of Education," Campbell says. "This important milestone in the Managed Network Upgrade programme reflects the strength of our partnership with N4L and our shared commitment to supporting digital equity, cybersecurity, and better learning outcomes for ākonga across Aotearoa."
Palo Alto Networks' New Zealand Managing Director, Misti Landtroop, says the company is "proud to partner with N4L" in rolling out the new Managed Network.
"By delivering our next-generation firewall, cybersecurity technologies and web filtering, we're providing a robust platform that enables safer, more efficient digital learning environments for students and educators nationwide," Landtroop says.
2degrees chief executive Mark Callander says the project aligns with the company's commitment to building a "better-connected Aotearoa".
"We're proud to support N4L in delivering reliable, high-performance connectivity to schools across the motu," Callander says. "At 2degrees, we're committed to building a better-connected Aotearoa, and it's exciting to see that vision being realised in classrooms across the country."
The transition of schools to N4L's new service began in February 2025 and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. Once finished, the Managed Network will connect 2,500 schools and 905,000 students and teachers to what N4L describes as faster, safer and more secure internet.
