Internode connects Tassie school to the NBN

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 17:46

Business IT - Networking

Internode says it has connected its first school, Circular Head Christian School in Smithton to Tasmania's NBN.

The announcement comes ahead of the official launch of the NBN in Tasmania, tomorrow 12 August,  most likely by Julia Gillard. However that event has been somewhat undermined by earlier announcements from both Internode and Primus of their first customers.  These came after one of the first users let the cat out of the bag with a posting on Whirlpool.

Circular Head Christian School principal Patrick Bakes said the NBN fibre-optic service meant that staff and students were no longer limited by the Internet connection during peak times. "We can have up to 150 students on the Internet at once, which our NBN connection handles with ease."

The school previously relied on two ADSL2+ links. According to Internode, "Although those links reported speeds of 13Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream, actual traffic throughput never reached those speeds. Since the fibre service came online, the school has cut off one of its Internet connections because the fibre is suitable for VoIP. The other ADSL2+ Internet link is retained for redundancy."

Bakes added: "We have conducted some test high-definition videoconferencing trials, and this is not hampered at all by general use of the Internet connection. We're also exploring the use of videoconferencing between our students and other parties, such as specialist educators located interstate or overseas."

Bakes said the school was also examining videoconferencing as a way to deliver subjects between the Christian schools in Tasmania. "The issue has been the quality of videoconferencing, especially the lack of real-time delivery.

"Improving this makes the possibility of virtual online classrooms much more feasible which is something we want to get involved in. We are also developing the use of interactive whiteboards throughout the school and improved Internet access makes the potential use of these devices greater."