Kelvin will not have a direct impact on schools

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster was asked by Foyle Sinn Fin MLA Martina Anderson to outline the opportunities for schools in the Foyle constituency to benefit from high-speed reliable internet connections as a result of Project Kelvin.

The Minister replied: "Project Kelvin will not have an immediate direct impact on broadband for schools. However, as for Small Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), Project Kelvin will enable more Internet Service Providers to provide broadband access within Northern Ireland.

"We have already seen evidence of this, with North West Electronics (NWE) providing wireless access in the North West. Kelvin enables providers like these to access the Points of Presence and also obtain connectivity to internet exchanges in London and Dublin in order to provide low cost Internet Protocol Transit (IPT). Schools may, therefore, benefit from increased connectivity options and potential price reductions."

She said schools may also benefit from the next generation broadband project, which she announced in December 2009.

DETINI the awarded an 18 million contract, part funded from EU Structural Funds, to BT to deliver access to next generation broadband services to 85 per cent of businesses by 2011.

"A facility to allow interested parties to check for information on specific upgrades in their areas is available at www.fasterbroadbandni.com," advised Mrs Foster.

She also insisted responsibility for broadband in schools was a matter for her colleague in the Executive Caitrona Ruane.

"It is, however, important to note that responsibility for computer connections for schools rests with the Department of Education (DE).

DE has advised that a managed Information Communication Technology (ICT) service, Classroom 2000 (C2k) provides all schools in Northern Ireland with internal networks and computers and access to the internet using the local BT infrastructure.

"Connections to UK mainland and Republic of Ireland are delivered through the public internet and the Joint Academic Network (JANET) service.

"All international connections are made across the public internet. Where this public internet traffic utilizes the Kelvin infrastructure, all schools across Northern Ireland will benefit from it. However, C2K has had no direct dealings with the Kelvin project," she said.