Ultra-fast network has speedy benefits

FAST LEARNERS: Lily Cairncross and Callaghan Watson enjoy Carlton School's fully digital learning environment. PHOTOS/ SUPPLIED 040515WCSUP03

Wanganui's newly-completed Ultrafast Fibre network is already proving useful for businesses and schools.

The network officially launches with a three-day expo from May 14 to 16, which will include information about ultra-fast connections along with practical workshops.

Melita Farley and her husband Kevin Double run their film and education company, Double Farley, from Wanganui, yet much of their work comes from out of town. They said their business operated successfully because of ultra-fast broadband (UFB). "With our UFB connection, it's very easy to build and maintain relationships because communication via video conferencing and email is so immediate," Ms Farley said.

It allowed people to live in a smaller community while still developing national and international links, and it has also meant the couple could work on different online projects at the same time.

"Previously we had to consider what each of us in the business was doing as we couldn't do tasks requiring a lot of data at once," she said. "Large downloads would time out and fail, so we'd have to start over."

The education sector has also tapped into the network, with Carlton School an example of a fully digital Wanganui primary.

The school uses cloud-based learning which enables pupils to edit and save their own documents and teachers to look at them in real time. Each pupil has their own device and all classes have their own website, which is regularly updated with a blog.

Principal Gaye O'Connor said UFB had improved the students' education. "We have around 100 devices online at one time and people aren't being dropped off. We can upload big pieces of information without the network grinding to a halt or slowing down."

Ms O'Connor said the pupils were more actively engaged in their schooling when an audience was created for their work.

"When students receive responses from around the world, they are really blown away."

-To register for the free workshops at the opening three-day expo go to gofaster.co.nz/free-workshops.