Press releases

ntl delivers high speed learning network to Glasgow's special education needs schools

• Delivering reliable, cost effective communications to Glasgow City Council's special educational needs schools
• Helping the Council to implement its policy of 'inclusion for all' - supporting individual learning for young people with additional support needs
• Enabling a range of innovative new applications for pupils.

11 June 2005 - ntl Business, a leading provider of communications services to the public sector, has announced the completion of a reliable, resilient and robust network infrastructure, delivering high speed bandwidth to Glasgow City Council’s Education Services. The ntl bespoke network will provide communication solutions to 27 special needs schools in the Glasgow catchment area.

In response to the growing demand for high bandwidth, Glasgow City Council recognised the need for an infrastructure that would not only support its existing activities with primary and secondary schools in the area, but would allow Glasgow’s special educational needs schools to communicate efficiently with the wider school community. ntl's network offers scalable bandwidth and improved connectivity to facilitate ICT-assisted learning, teaching, information sharing and the introduction of new applications that will enable the Council to achieve its goals.

Glasgow City Council's aim is to maximise the learning potential of all young people in the city, regardless of their ability or additional support needs. The scalable bandwidth and improved network connectivity supplied by ntl to the special needs schools will help to support individual learning programmes and requirements. Teachers will now be well supported in using new and emerging technologies to meet the diverse range of learning needs.

Archie Walker, ICT Manager in Glasgow City Council's Education Services Department said: "Ensuring communication throughout the wider school community is key in facilitating improved learning, teaching and data sharing. ntl has provided us with a reliable and cost effective solution that gives our staff the confidence that the communications technology they need is ready and waiting at the flick of a switch. We now know that we have a resilient system that delivers steadfast connectivity and allows greater understanding and collaboration across the city."

Tony Harris, Managing Director, ntl Business, added: "ntl has been providing tailor-made communications solutions to the public sector for over 20 years. Implementing advanced communications is crucial to the current drive to meet local e-Government objectives and we have worked closely with the team at Glasgow City Council Education Services to provide a truly scalable solution to accommodate their needs in such a specialised teaching environment."

The solution comprises ntl’s Ethernet VPN (Virtual Private Network) - a multi-site platform that uses Ethernet technology to extend the existing LAN (Local Area Network) environment. The Ethernet VPN will deliver enhanced network connectivity to Glasgow’s specialist schools at speeds of up to 1GB. ntl will continue to manage the network and deliver fully managed services to each site.