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The improvement affects two areas:

Higher bandwidths
Until now, Swisscom has offered schools a maximum bandwidth of 6 Mbps. Due to the increased use of multimedia content, more and more schools are reaching their capacity limits. The development of new transmission technologies (VDSL, fibre-optic network) means bandwidths of up to 50 Mbps are now available. In a new move, Swisscom has decided to sponsor these high-bandwidth connections as part of its “Internet for Schools” initiative. Schools can register their requirements with the relevant cantonal coordination unit from 1 December 2009.

The new, high-bandwidth network no longer has a sponsored security solution, like the one which has been used by the existing school networks since the initiative was launched. The requirements of a security solution are usually highly individual, which is why we are delegating the task of providing the necessary infrastructure to the cantons. Swisscom is also offering the cantons  a heavily discounted service.

Pre-school pupils also benefit from “Internet for Schools”
Nurseries and primary schools are increasingly converging. The cantons approached Swisscom to ask for the “Internet for Schools” programme to be extended to pre-school children and Swisscom is accommodating this request. Nurseries which are integrated into primary schools can now be incorporated into the cantonal educational network. In other words, Swisscom can now offer free Internet access to nurseries on request. We are expecting approximately 10,000 new connections. To date, around 5,600 pupils have benefited from free Internet access through “Internet for Schools”.

The offer is available now, and the cantonal coordination units would be happy to provide further details.