Catholic schools, Telstra combine for $146 million broadband project

Peter Dinham
Monday, 13 July 2009 09:59

IT Industry - Deals

The network, which is predominantly fibre-based, will connect five data centres across Australia using Telstra Internet Direct, which Thodey said provided carrier-grade connectivity and means schools will avoid the risk of congestion configuration issues.

Management of the network will be handled through a range of virtual private networks and gateway exchanges.  

Elder said the network was one of the most exciting developments in education for a long time, adding that “this is an historic agreement between Telstra and the Catholic sector which will benefit students in Catholic schools across Australia.”

According to David Thodey, broadband has become a “critical tool that helps break down the geographical and social barriers and connects students to each other and the rest of the world.”

 “Together with CNA, Telstra will provide Catholic schools across Australia with the broadband services necessary to access education resources critical to a first rate contemporary learning environment,” Thodey said.

Elder said it was important for Catholic schools to be able to provide the best opportunities for students to give them “every chance for the future and to pursue their career of choice.

“Catholic schools require high speed network connections and our secondary schools, in particular, need expanded broadband capacity so teachers and students can fully utilise all the available services.

Elder said more than 90 per cent of all Catholic education sites in Australia had committed to the new network, and Catholic Network Australia Ltd, a subsidiary company of Catholic Resources Ltd, would manage CNA.