Schools hang up on Telkom

Government education institutions are opting out of the state telecoms provider

GOVERNMENT education institutions are opting out of the state telecoms provider now that it is no longer a monopoly.

Four months ago, Ekurhuleni East College , a public tertiary institute with campuses in underprivileged communities on the East Rand, had to start to look for alternatives to its faulty, overpriced Telkom network.

Communication Solutions , a wireless network developer, has offered a network based on a radio- link product called PTP400 that is used by Motorola.

In what is dubbed the E-Schools project, the college will be using part of a national R1.6-billion government recapitalisation fund allocated for the upgrading of public schools around the country.

Other education and training colleges have also shown interest in the project. They include the Central Johannesburg and South West Gauteng colleges.

Rural schools with little access to training facilities for teachers have also shown interest, and will await the final stages of the E- Schools project before jumping in.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/4873.html