Highland schools connected to top-of-the-class broadband
Children in more than a thousand schools, including 37 in the Highlands, are now enjoying next-generation internet speeds thanks to UK government investment.
It means teachers can make use of the most cutting-edge learning technology – such as video conferencing platforms to host joint classes and assemblies with schools anywhere in the world, and online tools that bring lessons to life such as films and learning games. It will also support teachers to spend more time planning and delivering lessons and less time staring at loading screens.
The work is part of Westminster’s mission to level up internet access across the UK by investing in fast gigabit broadband and lifting barriers to commercial roll out.
The investment focused on schools in around 30 per cent of the UK that currently cannot access speeds of 100 megabits per second and were not in line to receive an upgrade commercially from broadband companies. Many of them are in rural or hardto-reach areas, including the Highlands.
Work is under way to bring gigabit speeds to even more schools by March next year.
It comes as the government launched a call to understand the future wireless connectivity needs of the UK and how it can support the rollout of 5G and other advanced wireless networks. The call will inform the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy announced in June.
Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said: ‘We are levelling up pupils’ and teachers’ access to the fastest future-proofed broadband, giving hundreds of schools better access to important learning opportunities, no matter where they live.’
The upgrades form part of a more than £210 million investment to bring next-generation connections to places where internet speeds are slower, such as in rural areas.
The investment also makes it easier for broadband providers to extend the network to surrounding communities, with around 1.5 million more homes and businesses now within 200 metres of a fibre optic broadband cable thanks to the investment.
The government is also supporting technology upgrades in classrooms, improving education for pupils and enabling school staff to work better by investing £30 million in the pilot project, Connect the Classroom.