How and when schools will be connected
School connection timeframes
The rollout to schools will be a five-year process, involving multiple rounds of negotiations. The Ministry of Education does not control these negotiations, which schools fall into coverage areas or the timeframe for your connection. The agencies overseeing the negotiations – Ministry of Economic Development and Crown Fibre Holdings have assured us that all schools will receive improved broadband access under either the UFB or the RBI in the next five years. The initiative each school may be covered under is not necessarily indicative of the timeframe in which it will be connected. For example, in Whangarei, Northpower has negotiated a three-year rollout schedule with Crown Fibre Holdings which will see the last of a group of 27 schools connected in 2014.
Summary of how schools will receive improved broadband access
The table at the bottom of this page summarises final coverage areas negotiated by the Ministry of Economic Development and Crown Fibre Holdings with the chosen providers for the rural and urban roll outs respectively.
You can type in your school’s MoE number or name to check under which of the Government’s initiatives your school will receive improved broadband.
Once more complete information (year by year) about connection timeframes is available, this will also be posted here. Schools will also be notified directly of the exact timeframe for their connections, when this information becomes available to the Ministry of Education.
How schools will be connected
There is no need for schools to register to receive an ultra-fast broadband connection. The Ministry of Education will contact each school individually once a provider has been selected and a timeframe confirmed for their connection. Each school will be provided with an information pack to prepare them for the connection process, and support and advice on choosing a fibre-enabled internet service provider. The information packs for state and state integrated schools, and independent schools can be found below in related downloads.
In the meantime, the Ministry will provide regular updates on progress to inform schools’ decision making.
For more information or to join our email update list please email ufb.schools@minedu.govt.nz