Latest news with #ManagedNetworkUpgrade
Techday NZ
5 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
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.
Techday NZ
03-07-2025
- Techday NZ
Network for Learning upgrades Wi-Fi in over 1,700 NZ schools
Network for Learning has passed a significant milestone in the delivery of its large-scale equipment replacement and network upgrade initiatives across schools in New Zealand. 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.
