Today’s educational institutions have a number of aspects to address when it comes to connectivity. This is especially true within the K-12 sector, where schools are dealing with rising network demands and specific upgrading obstacles. However, thanks to broadband network capabilities, these essentials can be addressed and administrators can see measurable benefits.
Today’s network needs
Currently, 99 percent of K-12 districts predict that they will need to increase network bandwidth to account for the increase in capacity requirements before the launch of the 2016-2017 school year. A number of different factors are leading to these rising connectivity requirements, including increases in mobile device use, online courses and testing.
In today’s education landscape, 59 percent of district administrators noted that they already allow or plan to permit their students to utilize smartphones, tablets and laptops in the classroom. As more mobile endpoints access school networks, however, increased bandwidth is needed to properly support the devices.
In addition, the majority of districts have integrated online courses within their curriculum, but only four out of every 10 schools have the proper infrastructure in place to support online testing capabilities.
Upgrading obstacles
These increasing connectivity demands have led many administrators to seek solutions to upgrade their networks. However, this is a time when obstacles arise, including concerns over maintenance costs and insufficient funding. Although federal funding programs are in place to address these issues, less than 10 percent of schools believe the current structure of the E-Rate program will provide the needed monetary assets.
Solutions and benefits
However, with help from a networking solutions provider like Ecessa, schools can implement sustainable solutions that maximize available resources and provide never-down access to critical educational materials. A leveraged broadband network can allow administrators to scale bandwidth affordably and improve their network’s overall performance, which can lead to better student performance as well.
Answering the call for expanded K-12 connectivity: an infographic