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Less than 25% of schools covered by DSL?

  • 15-07-2005 2:24pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 805 ✭✭✭


    The broadband for schools programme details are announced here.

    It is all a bit odd. Why should the kids in more than 1500 Irish schools be subjected to third rate satelite broadband? Is the situation really that awful?

    From the statement;
    The breakdown by delivery technology will see the delivery of connectivity to 841 schools by fixed line (e.g. DSL), 1,507 by Wireless and 1,577 by satellite and a full schedule listing the services to be provided to individual schools is attached below and can be found on the web-sites of both Departments.

    Is it possible that only 841 out of 3,925 schools have DSL supporting copper at their disposal? I mean schools are supposed to be in centres of population after all.

    By the way - why are Eircom not rolling out any of this multi million contract?


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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 477 ✭✭DonegalMan


    I see my local school - Castlefinn - is getting satellite.

    My kids have all moved on from NS so I'm not exactly sure of the numbers nowadays, but it's at least a 10-12 teacher school including a full time principal, so I'd guess at least 300 children.

    The school is in the centre of the village on the N15 - it even has fibre running past the front entrance - so it's not exactly the 'middle of nowhere', and several people in the village including myself are already getting IBB wireless from the TV mast in Strabane.

    Yet they're gonna give them satellite.

    The Government's idea of Broadband really makes me want to weep :(


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭damien


    It would be a really really interesting project to find out details of each and every school and cross-match them (oooh I'm sounding all CSI:NY) with the locations for the MAN projects and eircom/smart/BT/Leap enabled exchanges to see whether some schools could get something better than satellite but did not.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭Delphi91


    vinnyfitz wrote:
    ... I mean schools are supposed to be in centres of population after all.

    That is generally true in the case of secondary schools - they tend to be in towns, villages and cities. However, that would not necessarily be the case for primary schools. There would be many locations around the country (especially in country areas) where there would be a primary school but no secondary school. You tend to have a number of primary schools acting as feeder schools to one secondary school.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Delphi is generally correct in that assertation.

    Remember that Your friendly neighbourhood Sponge told ye all what would happen with schools and VSAT installs in February 2004 did he not ? You will therefore forgive me for being somewhat underwhelmed at my being right ....a year and a half later although some wriggle room was gained for Wireless was it not Viking ???????


  • Registered Users Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Mr_Man


    It is not clear whether the technology indicated for each school is the one they are actually getting, or the one which was proposed by the Vendors. The scheme allows some leeway for the vendors to substitute alternative technologies if the one proposed is not viable.

    Looking at some of the technologies the schools in this area (North Wicklow) are getting there is either going to be some serious expansion of coverage by the likes of Smart and IBB or some serious rejigging of what the schools will actually get.

    M.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 485 ✭✭Kare Bear


    What do schools need it for.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,784 ✭✭✭Urban Weigl


    Kare Bear wrote:
    What do schools need it for.

    Good question.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,718 ✭✭✭SkepticOne


    Kare Bear wrote:
    What do schools need it for.
    Edumacation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,685 ✭✭✭zuma


    Satellite BB is fine for primary/secondary schools as long as they dont do much video conferencing or other time related tasks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,144 ✭✭✭eircomtribunal


    The full list of schools and who's how bb enabling them is available from the DCMNR website as an Excel spreadsheet: http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/5E3FEA7E-1958-4C7F-9D8C-A8019660E37D/0/FullAward.zip

    P.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    The vast bulk of schools in Galway City are IBB , God Help Them :( DSL is a very distant second .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,685 ✭✭✭zuma


    Right,

    After searching that list for the local primary/secondary schools in the area I came up with something of interest.

    I live in Bantry, Co.Cork and Smart are providing BB through ADSL to schools in my immediate area.
    What I would like to know is how are Smart doing this as the Bantry exchange is probable never going to be fitted with Smart LLU equipment(I wish they would)...so are they just using eircom bitstream under the Smart name???

    Thanks for any replies.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Yes Zuma , Smart will become an Eircom Bitstream reseller when they start the school rollout. I know of 2 schools on the Dept list that say VSAT but will actually be ADSL as that will be rolled out by the end of the year in their local exchange.

    If anyone has confirmation of Eirocm ADSL coming to their area in the next 6 months , and if they are a Smart or Digiweb VSAT school on that list, they can ring up the Dept and get changed from VSAT to ADSL with the same provider.

    This will delay the initial install, sometimes by 3 or 4 months, but will cause everyone less grief in the Long Term . I would advise anyone whose school is connected to an exchange on the following list to do the same. This list of TO BE ENABLED exchanges was published after the bids went in for the school scheme.

    Ring 1800512128 to confirm precisely when your exchange on that list is to be done .

    DSL Deployment 2005-2006 (180 confirmed sites) 20 or so TO BE CONFIRMED and therefore not on this list or any other I know of in the public domain.

    A
    ABBEYLEIX
    ABBEYDORNEY
    ACHILL SOUND
    ACLARE
    ADARE
    ANNAGARY
    ARDARA
    ARDFERT
    ARDRAHAN
    ARVAGH
    ASKEATON
    AUGHRIM
    AVOCA
    B
    BALLINAGH
    BALLINALEE
    BALLINHASSIG
    BALLINSPITTLE
    BALLINTRA
    BALLIVOR
    BALLYBOGHIL
    BALLYCARNEY
    BALLYCONNELL
    BALLYCULLANE
    BALLYDEHOB
    BALLYFARNAN
    BALLYGARRET
    BALLYGLUNIN
    BALLYHAUNIS
    BALLYHEIGE
    BALLYMACELLIGOTT
    BALLYMOTE
    BALLYRAGGET
    BALLYSPILLANE
    BALLYVARY
    BALTINGLASS
    BANSHA
    BELTURBET
    BENNETTSBRIDGE
    BERRINGS
    BLIARY
    BORRIS
    BRIDGE END
    BRITTAS
    BRITTAS BAY BRIDGE
    BROADFORD
    BRUFF
    BUNCLODY
    BUTTEVANT
    C
    CAHIRCIVEEN
    CALLAN
    CAMPILE
    CARLINGFORD
    CARNEW
    CARRICK
    CARRIGNAVAR
    CASTLEBELLINGHAM
    CASTLECONNELL
    CASTLEDERMOT
    CASTLEFINN
    CASTLELYONS
    CASTLESHANE
    CLAREGALWAY
    CLARINA
    CLERISTOWN
    CLOGHEEN
    CLONTIBRET
    COACHFORD
    COLLON
    COLLOONEY
    CORROFIN
    COSTELLO
    CROOKSTOWN
    CROSSMOLINA
    CURRAGH CAMP
    D
    DAINGEAN
    DELVIN
    DONADEA
    DOON
    DRIMOLEAGUE
    DROMAHAIR
    DRUMLISH
    DRUMSHANBO
    DUNCANNON
    DUNFANAGHY
    DUNKINEELY
    DUNLEER
    DURRUS
    E
    EASKY
    EDGEWORTHSTOWN
    ELPHIN
    F
    FALCARRAGH
    FERBANE
    FOXFORD
    FOYNES
    G
    GEASHILL
    GLASSAN
    GLENNAMADDY
    GLENTIES
    GRENAGH
    H
    HOLYCROSS
    I
    INCH ST. LAWRENCE
    INVER
    INVERAN
    J
    JENKINSTOWN
    JOHNSTOWN
    K
    KILBEGGAN
    KILBRITTAIN
    KILCARN
    KILLALA
    KILLALOE
    KILLANN
    KILLAVULLEN
    KILLEAGH
    KILLENAULE
    KILLERISK
    KILMACTHOMAS
    KILMALLOCK
    KILMEADEN
    KILMINCHY
    KINGSCOURT
    KINNEGAD
    KNOCK
    KNOCKCROGHERY
    L
    LISDOONVARNA
    LISMORE
    LITTLETON
    M
    MANORHAMILTON
    MILFORD
    MILLSTREET
    MOONCOIN
    MOUNTBELLEW
    MOUNTRATH
    MOVILLE
    MOYCULLEN
    MULLAGH
    N
    NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS
    NEWPORT
    NEWTOWN CUNNINGHAM O
    OLDCASTLE
    OMEATH
    OULART
    OYLGATE
    P
    PALLAS GREEN
    PASSAGE EAST
    PEDLAR'S CROSS
    PORTLAW
    PORTUMNA
    R
    RAMELTON
    RAVENSDALE
    RIVERSTICK
    RIVERSTOWN (Tipp)
    RIVERSTOWN (Sligo)
    ROCHFORTBRIDGE
    ROOSKEY
    ROSS CARBERRY
    ROSSLARE STRAND
    S
    SCARRIFF
    SCOTSTOWN
    SHANAGOLDEN
    SHINRONE
    SIXMILEBRIDGE
    SMITHBOROUGH
    SPIDDAL
    STRADBALLY
    STRADONE
    STRAFFAN
    STRANDHILL
    STROKESTOWN
    T
    TALLOW
    TAMNEY
    TARA
    TARBERT
    TEERANEA
    TINAHELY
    TOBERCURRY
    TOMHAGGARD
    V
    VIRGINIA
    W
    WATERGRASSHILL
    WATERVILLE
    WELLINGTON BRIDGE


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    The other providers will all use Wireless only or DSL only , the Wireless operators are Last Mile, IBB and HS Data. I have heard no horror stories about HS Data and Last Mile so their wireless solutions should be fine. As Regards IBB, God knows it maywork like a dream :) . The DSL only operator is BT .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,685 ✭✭✭zuma


    I know Im being a bit of a pain Sponge Bob...but have you enable dates for the exchanges above as I have a friend living around Ballydehob and would like to know when his exchange will be enabled as he is very interested in DSL due to the speed(lack) of Dialup.

    Thanks again.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    I have no dates , ring the number I gave you. If they have no dates assume Oct earliest March latest.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,731 Mod ✭✭✭✭The Real B-man


    Kare Bear wrote:
    What do schools need it for.

    Secondary Schools = Porn


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,859 ✭✭✭Simi


    Trust me DSL is a very low priority in most irish schools. In my school (Summerhill College, Sligo) IT classes were for first years only, along with swimming. PE only goes up as far as Junior Cert and Home Economics was dropped completely from the end of this year. Not to mention a good few of the classes have to be held in an ancient building that would be condemned if it were not a school building. And lets not forget the extreme overcrowding common to all secondary schools in Towns and Cities. Schools need money not DSL.


  • Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,780 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Simi wrote:
    Trust me DSL is a very low priority in most irish schools. In my school (Summerhill College, Sligo) IT classes were for first years only, along with swimming.
    I'm reminded - yet again - of those who asked before group water schemes what culchies wanted running water for - sure they don't even have toilets?
    Simi wrote:
    Schools need money not DSL.
    "Towns need hospitals, not schools." <- what's wrong with this statement? On the face of it, it might appear to have some validity, since health is arguably more important than education.

    But it misses the point that both health and education are important. Yes, schools need money. It's a strange leap of logic to conclude that therefore they don't need broadband.


  • Legal Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 4,338 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tom Young


    While that may be the case there is a political agenda.

    Ireland is a leader in the global eSchools Initiatives. GeSCI.

    Thus having the leaders of the GeSCI appearing to be weaker than some new economies and under developed markets where education is a driver for connectivity is not politically expedient.

    Re: eircom. It's not the most profitable exercise to undertake reduced cost services without branding to the department of education.

    Some may remember that Dermot Ahern and co. published intent to levy Telcos with a Schools BB levy. In rode IBEC with a PPP - Public Private Partnership.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 24 barrymac


    Kare Bear wrote:
    What do schools need it for.

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/12/school_no_books/

    Schools in California reckon their kids will be more up to date by getting their info online so they are ditching books entirely in favour of laptops. They reckon it saves them money too!


  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭SparkyLarks


    From the rest of the article that barry linked

    "he can look at empirical evidence gathered from over 30 countries around the world, which discovered that computer use actually reduces childrens numeracy and literacy skills.

    Schoolchildren were developing a "problem-solving deficit disorder", and losing the ability to analyze, the Royal Economic Society concluded.

    Mind you, they were pretty nifty with the trackpad - and had picked up some k3wl Google tricks.

    Of course, a computer in the classroom doesn't make a good teacher bad, and a textbook doesn't make a bad teacher effective. But try telling this to a techno utopian."


  • Registered Users Posts: 24 barrymac


    They are of course aware of the fact that kids who rely on computers to do donkey work for them think less about the problems themselves, this research was very well publicised, but they reckon the that the advantages far outweigh this.

    Of course work needs to be done on how to use computers in the class room effectively. I like their point that computers in the classroom won't make a crap teacher good or vice versa.

    Well you know we could go back to scrawling on slate, that'd probably do their problem solving skills a world of good! :rolleyes:

    Edit: Although this is veering off topic now, that article linked an interesting, if a bit mathematical, paper on the subject: http://www.res.org.uk/econometrics/504.pdf

    To me it's all down to sensible use. My parents banned all computer games apart from edutainment type things on the Texas Instruments TI994a. I was the only kid in the class who had a computer at home and was always a fair bit ahead. The games I played got me ahead of the class in maths and grammar. I remember the most gruelling one was a time trialed times tables practicer, and believe it or not was fun to play.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Could we maybe speculate on how a country with as good 90% BB coverage according to the Fat Controller can only DSL provision less than a third of its schools and is installing VSAT instead ?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,144 ✭✭✭eircomtribunal


    Sponge Bob wrote:
    Could we maybe speculate on how a country with as good 90% BB coverage according to the Fat Controller can only DSL provision less than a third of its schools and is installing VSAT instead ?

    Could it be that rather what Eircom and ComReg say, this map is still accurate?

    P.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,685 ✭✭✭zuma


    Could it be that rather what Eircom and ComReg say, this map is still accurate?

    P.

    A couple of extra towns/areas have been DSL enabled, but not many, so yes its still fairly accurate.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,235 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    It won't remain accurate for too long. Eircom have already upgraded a few exchanges under the new programme - Dunleer has been upgraded for almost a month.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,144 ✭✭✭eircomtribunal


    Fergus Cassidy's column is worth a read:

    "DISH IS DAFT
    The telephone network is so bad that over 1500 schools will have to use
    satellite for internet access."

    P.


  • Registered Users Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Mr_Man


    ...on th epoint he makes about the lack of joined up thinking between the GBS and Schools broadband programs. Ok it would have made things a little difficult for the Civil Servants to co-ordinate the two programs, but since it was largely the same people surely something could have been worked out to enable both to compliment each other.

    Now in some cases the Schools program is in danger of undermining the viability of the GBS schemes.

    M.


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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,731 Mod ✭✭✭✭The Real B-man


    our school has two computer rooms each with 30 computers and were on 64k isdn funny our library has 2mb Dsl on only 4 pcs what a waste


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