Innovative bandwidth arrangements for the Australian Education and Training Sector; Stage 1: Assessment of overseas approaches

Limits on access to information and communication technology infrastructure are seen to be a key impediment to the education and training sector’s participation in the information economy.  The Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs became aware of a number of overseas communities that were taking greater responsibility for providing the bandwidth they needed rather than depending on telecommunications carriers.  With this background, the Department sought to become better informed about innovative approaches for providing bandwidth to meet the future requirements of the Australian education and training sector to support teaching, learning and the enhancement of linkages both within the sector and the wider community.  Ten innovative high bandwidth initiatives were taken as case studies, including: Alberta SuperNet (Alberta); Commission Scolaire des Affluents (Quebec); Public Sector Network (Ontario); Austin Independent School District (Texas); Connecting Minnesota/Minnesota Integrated Network (Washington State); Tacoma School District (Washington State); Stockholm Schools (Sweden); and Kanal Tierp (Uppsala County, Sweden).  This report compares and contrasts the distinguishing and common features of the bandwidth initiatives in terms of the service delivery models embodied, the network implications, the high bandwidth applications delivered, as well as relevant financial and regulatory aspects.  It concludes by assessing the key lessons learned from those initiatives and how they could be deployed into the Australian context.

Full report: download PDF    (552.0 KB, 135 pages)

Appendix 1: download PDF    (29.2 KB, 6 pages)

Appendix 2: download PDF    (58.4 KB, 12 pages)