Wireless solution provides reliable Internet speeds to 1 Gbps

Two very different schools – one in country Victoria and another in Melbourne’s inner east – faced the same problem; a shortfall in Internet reliability which was compromising their increasingly IT dependent teaching approach.

Horsham College in central Victoria and Melbourne’s Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak both found a solution through a wireless network which doesn’t suffer the same congestion issues that other providers can run into.  

Spirit Telecom has its own Sky-Speed network, and after completing the Horsham Schools Network build via a grant from the Victorian Government, Horsham College now operates at speeds of 500/500 Mbps.

At Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak, Spirit Telecom will be providing a high-speed Internet connection of 1 Gbps to the school to reduce redundancy and ensure connectivity across its campus. The link runs independently, so like Horsham College, Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak will never be impacted by traffic congestion.

The company has rapidly put together a response to the unfolding situation around the virus outbreak, offering its services at reduced prices. Deployment is typically very fast, installations usually take five business days, and charges are at around $800-$1000 per month with free install fees on long-term contracts. Their service is available throughout the eastern seaboard.

Information Technology Manager at Horsham Schools Network James Mutch said, “I was sceptical at first, but I simply can’t speak more highly of the Spirit Telecom service and what the difference in speed of connection has meant for our teachers and students – in total 1600 users.

“Quite simply, no call dropouts, not one quality issue, no Internet losses and no need to contact support. With our own link we’re not vulnerable to traffic congestion like we have experienced from other Telco providers. I am over the moon.”

Business Manager and Company Secretary of Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak Tim Rowland says that the school’s Learning Management System was initially designed to be housed on premises so that during school time everyone could connect. Their connection didn’t have the bandwidth or capacity to manage requirements with students and teachers moving to remote learning.

“Spirit Telecom is working collaboratively and quickly with us to adapt our IT services and high-speed Internet. The high-speed 1 Gbps link will ensure the school is well prepared for this unprecedented situation and ensures our teachers can securely access our network, without a compromise on speed or quality of connection,” Rowland said.

“The fact that it is wireless reduces one more point of failure. This means that as an extra connection, we don’t have to rely on the cable infrastructure coming to the site.”

As more schools move to working remotely, connectivity issues will be front and centre, and Spirit Telecom is addressing the challenges that the virus is presenting.

Managing Director of Spirit Telecom Sol Lukatsky said, “We have launched all these services at reduced prices to the schools, to not only maintain our goal of ensuring affordability and flexibility during this challenging time, but also do our part in the broader community’s efforts to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.”

Spirit Telecom will continue to closely monitor the pandemic and follow guidelines from relevant health authorities.

“As businesses and schools address this unprecedented situation, they need to ensure their bandwidth remains operational and secure against strains caused by increased usage on their networks, without a compromise on speed or quality of connection,” Lukatsky said.