Briefly: Network for Learning gets started; second level .nz names

Bill Bennett -

Network for Learning says 20 schools have begun moving to the company’s managed network. It also demonstrated its portal which will open in earnest at the start of the next school year.

The business was set up by the government to help schools use the UFB and RBI networks being built in New Zealand. It also has the job of encouraging digital learning.

N4L aims to have 700 schools on its network by the end of 2014. Eventually, the network will connect more than 800,000 students, teachers and admin staff.

The idea behind N4L is to give schools security along with a higher level of service quality and support than they have previously seen. N4L also aims to make internet performance more predictable, which makes applications like video conferencing more practical. By offering centralised support, it hopes to shoulder some of the burdens of running school internet leaving teachers to get on with teaching.

N4L’s network will mainly run over the UFB fibre network, but for the 25 percent of the country not covered by the network, it will use the RBI network and the technologies delivering broadband to remote areas.

  • Shorter internet addresses could soon be on the agenda after The Council of InternetNZ approved plans allowing second-level .nz domain names.  In other words, sites like billbennett.co.nz could be simply billbennett.nz. Domain Name Commission Chair David Farrar says: “This change will enable greater choice for people, companies and organisations wanting to get online or expand their online presence. A final policy implementing the proposal is subject to public consultation.
  • NZX stepped into the discussion about Chorus’ financial position after news reports of comments made by the Coalition for Fair Internet Pricing. The exchange denies it commented on Chorus’ compliance with listing rules. NZX says it does not comment on companies. The matter became news after Prime Minister John Key told the media Chorus was in danger of going broke as justification for overruling the Commerce Commission.