School Network Upgrade Project - Stage 3

The School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP3) is focused on upgrading schools’ internal cabling infrastructure in preparation for the use of ultra-fast broadband in their teaching and learning programmes. Two previous projects, SNUP1 and SNUP2, upgraded school networks in 445 mainly rural and small schools with no or poor networks. The SNUP3 project will focus on wider criteria as detailed below.

More information about the School Network Upgrade Project visit www.minedu.govt.nz/networks

What an upgrade includes

A complete audit of a school’s existing network infrastructure and designs for upgrading to Ministry standards. The Ministry will fully fund this work.
A cat6 network cabling solution and switching. Servers will be included where appropriate.
A fibre link, or drop, from a school building to the boundary (this is intended to link to fibre running past the school presently or in the future).
The Ministry will manage the upgrade on behalf of all schools through a prime contractor.

Criteria for upgrades

A school or school proprietor must register an interest to participate in the project.
Preference will be given to schools that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Rural secondary school
- Area school
- Schooling Improvement school
- Te Kotahitanga school
- ICT PD school
- Receiving satellite broadband
- Already taking a fibre service
- NEN trial school
- e-asTTle school
- VLN e-learning cluster
- Member of an ultra-fast broadband cluster
Unlike previous stages of SNUP the current state of a network is not a criteria for selection.
Schools meeting more criteria may be selected for an upgrade earlier than schools meeting fewer criteria.
Participation in the project is by Ministry invitation only, based on schools who have registered an interest.

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Funding

For state schools the Ministry will fund 80% of the total cost of the upgrade. The school will be required to fund the other 20%.
For state-integrated schools the Ministry will fund 68% of the total cost of the upgrade. The school proprietor will be required to fund the other 32%.
Drop costs for the fibre link from the premises to the boundary will also be funded on the same percentage split.

Timeframes

Schools will be upgraded in stages. Schools for the first stage of SNUP3 will be selected before the end of 2009. Audits for these schools will commence in 2010.

To register an interest

Email the network upgrades mailbox network.upgrades@minedu.govt.nz [no spam]
Include your school’s name and MoE number in the subject line

An example of the subject line might be: Name of School (MoE number) ROI for SNUP3.

On receipt of your email your interest to participate in SNUP3 will be registered. No replies will be sent to these emails but read receipts will be sent if you choose this option.

There is no closing date for applications at this time but earlier applications are likely to be given priority.

To inform the Ministry that your school is taking an existing fibre service contact NEN.Trial@minedu.govt.nz [no spam]