By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
WHILE much of the region is awaiting the National Broadband Network and its enhanced speeds, local schools are hoping for a lightning-fast internet upgrade now.
G21 Geelong alliance chief Elaine Carbines says a dedicated educational internet hub delivering the high-speed access is available for roll-out to many schools in the region.
Ms Carbines says many local schools could barely deliver enough bandwidth to allow a portion of just one class in the school to be on-line at a time.
“This horse-and-cart to Formula One transition can be ours for just $3.96 million,” she says.
“It’s impossible to over emphasise the importance of a fast viable internet platform for preparing our next generation students to drive the region’s leadership in innovation, advanced education, research, collaboration and e-commerce.”
The high-speed access would be delivered by a Geelong Secondary Schools and Community (GSSC) Digital Learning Hub.
The GSSC Digital Learning Hub partners regional secondary schools, with Deakin University, Gordon TAFE and Geelong Regional Library Corporation to share digital infrastructure and resources.
The hub would use Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet), a not-for-profit company owned by Australian universities and the CSIRO.
AARNet already operates a world-class high-speed 100 gigabit per second fibre optic network around Australia, with a 40Gbs fibre optic link to international destinations and a global research and education network.
Ms Carbines says AARNet could provide each partner school with a high-speed connection of 1Gbs.
“No other current or future telecommunication provider – including NBN Co – can deliver content to the number of users that each of the GSSC Digital Learning Hub partners need to support at their individual sites.”
AARNet would also provide partners with access to eduroam, a global network access service providing students and teachers with seamless wireless and internet connectivity when moving to or visiting universities, further learning institutions and research facilities worldwide.
Ms Carbines says G21’s board recently adopted the roll-out of the Geelong Secondary Schools and Community Digital Learning Hub as a G21 Priority Project.
Lobbying of state and federal politicians on the project has begun, she says, with more to come when a G21 team goes to Canberra next month.
