Microsoft bringing Wi-Fi in 36 schools

Microsoft Malta, together with the Ministry for Education, last week launched a newly-implemented project that has brought Wi-Fi connectivity to 36 church and private schools in Malta and Gozo.

The project was carried out by Microsoft over the past months purposely to work on all the necessary upgrades of the current infrastructure of classrooms in the 36 schools.

Microsoft’s investment provided 240 access points, supports network equipment such as routers and switches and the installation of all the equipment. Additionally, Microsoft will now provide additional software, monitoring, maintenance and support for the installed hardware for 3 years, following which, the management of the hardware will be handed over to the Ministry.

Addressing the media during an event at St Catherine’s School in Pembroke to launch this project, Panayiotis Ioannou, Country Manager at Microsoft Malta said: “We are truly proud that once again, we have had another opportunity to collaborate with the Government of Malta in its vision to keep empowering the local educational sector. Through this connectivity project, Microsoft not only contributes towards improving students’ digital skills in Malta but is also investing in Malta’s economy,” added Panayiotis Ioannou.

Alexandre Leite, Global director of Microsoft Connectivity, added “we are bringing the power of the cloud to people and organizations in places under-served by reliable and affordable connectivity.”

Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education thanked Microsoft for seeing this latest project through and commended the company’s constant commitment to Malta especially to the Education sector.

“Success is built on partnering with companies such as Microsoft who can lend their experience and know-how in turning opportuni- ties into tangible and fruitful projects. We need to build more of these partnerships on which to base the investment we are putting into education. Most of today’s students are preparing themselves for jobs that perhaps do not yet exist however, it is only through the best in technology that we can equip our students and make them employable,” said Minister Bartolo.