Transition to safer & smarter internet services picks up pace with the help from local IT companies

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 12 September 2018 – Today Network for Learning (N4L) is naming an initial list of eight IT support companies to assist the Crown Company with its rollout of smarter and safer internet services to 2450+ schools across New Zealand.

Designed to meet the schools’ changing needs around internet capacity and security, N4L began a programme of work to upgrade the government-funded Managed Network earlier this month, which is expected to be complete by October 2019.

All N4L-approved IT support companies have been selected based on their extensive experience supporting schools, with many having already helped N4L connect schools to the Managed Network when it was first built.

“We are excited to be partnering with highly-skilled technology companies which have a proven track-record of working successfully with schools, and we look forward to announcing more partners in due course,” says N4L CEO Larrie Moore. “Our technology partners are very important as they will be instrumental in helping N4L ensure the rollout is delivered in a timely and seamless manner with the right levels of support provided along the way.”

The appointed IT support companies will be visiting every school, transitioning them to a new combined firewall and internet filtering solution. To date, the average transition time for the 100+ schools upgraded in August ranged from five minutes to an hour, with minimal impact on the school’s internet connectivity during this time*.

Schools react to Managed Network Upgrade

Cambridge Middle School was among the first to be upgraded by one of the named IT support companies.

“It was super helpful to have someone here, on the ground, to take care of the technology for us and make sure the upgrade went smoothly for us,” says Acting Deputy Principal Gareth Gilmour. “We are responsible for providing a safe learning environment for our students so access to technology and support that helps us protect our kids online – delivered at no extra cost to the school – is really important given the range of learning activities our students use the internet for.”

With the help of its technology partners, N4L expects to upgrade around 260 schools every month, with a schools’ size, complexity, and location informing the rollout schedule.

In addition to enhanced protection against online threats and improved internet filtering tools, the Managed Network Upgrade will provide schools with smarter reporting tools, and an easier way for schools to get more bandwidth.

*The length of a school’s transition time is depending on how the school’s internal networks and internet filtering are configured.

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Notes:

Panel members:
The 8 companies currently appointed to help N4L with the Managed Network Upgrade are the following, with more companies expected to be added in the coming months:

  1. Aiscorp
  2. Cyclone Computers
  3. Isometric Solutions
  4. New Era IT
  5. Norrcom
  6. Smart Computer Systems
  7. Schooled Up IT Limited
  8. Telco Technology Services (TTS)

For more information, please contact:
Julie Landry, N4L Communications, 021 895 098 or [email protected]

About The Network for Learning Ltd
Crown company Network for Learning (N4L) connects more than 2400 schools across New Zealand to smart and safe internet services for learning via its fully funded Managed Network. Established to support the government’s goals for education, the company works alongside education, government, and technology partners to help schools get the most from digital connectivity. For more information, please visit www.n4l.co.nz.