Optus has nabbed a $15 million five-year contract with the NSW Department of Education and Communities for satellite services to improve remote students’ distance learning.
The deal will see the telco upgrade the existing satellite technology platform to double the amount of satellite bandwidth available to schools. It will also increase upload and download speeds by up to ten-fold.
Schools that are not covered by the Department’s Connected Classroom Program, which aims to provide schools and TAFE campuses with high-speed broadband, will have access to the new satellite services. These include 22 schools, six TAFE campuses, and 165 homestead students.
Upgrades will occur over the course of the next few months and is due to be completed by October.
These improvements will provide enhance Internet access and support new services such as video conferencing.
According to the NSW Government, Optus was picked as the provider because it can “deliver a secure, flexible and cost-effective two-way satellite service that supports educational deliver”.
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