Communications Solutions for Schools

White Paper Communications Solutions for Schools This document contains information proprietary to Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. The disclosure by Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. of information contained herein does not constitute any license or authorization to use or disclose the information, ideas or concepts presented. The contents of this document are subject to change without prior notice Page 1

Introduction When a government decides to make an investment in education, they are creating value for future generations, equipping them with improved tools for creating a better quality of life along with greater contribution to the country s economic future. Technology solutions for enhancing education provide a way of improving the quality of education to a widespread community by the use of standard computers in addition to dedicated hardware and software designed for making the learning process more efficient for the teacher and for the pupils. Examples for this are interactive whiteboards, multimedia content, education response systems and digital schoolbooks and exam systems. No matter which technology-based education solution is selected, a communications network is needed for the project to reach its full potential. The purpose of the communications platform is to deliver the digital content of the educational solution to the schools regardless of their geographic location and to allow the ministry of education to monitor the progress of the project s success. This paper will discuss the aspects of the communication network for schools with a focus on satellite networks and VSATs. We will explain the additional value that can be derived from the communications network and illustrate the implementation aspects including case studies of Gilat s deployments of networks for schools. Highlights of the Solution: Multiple forms of content VSAT networks support Internet, data, telephony, voice and video broadcast or conferencing, multimedia streaming. Educational Technology including: VSAT networks are enabling System Computer-based instruction, Digital schoolbooks and exams, Interactive Distant Learning (IDL) Multicast Satellite based VSAT networks have the inherent ability to transmit digital content to multiple sites at remote locations Rural and Solar Deployment VSAT networks are commonly deployed in rural locations. These sites can include solar power to overcome electricity outages or limited power infrastructure Fast Deployment & Network Scalability VSAT networks are entirely independent of terrestrial infrastructure they can be expanded with great ease and a fast as necessary. Infrastructure for additional e-government projects Having a VSAT network installed at school locations can serve the government for additional projects that require connectivity Page 2

Education in Kenya Education and training in Kenya is governed by the Education Act (1968) and other related Acts of parliament, including TSC Act, KNEC Act, Adult Education Act, University Act, and various Acts and Charters for universities. However, the Education Act of 1968, and the related Acts are not harmonized, and are no longer adequately responsive to the current and emerging trends in education and training. The legislation governing the sector has therefore not kept pace with new developments. Unless the inequalities in education between rural and urban schools are reduced, the schools and their students will always be victims of the divisions of quality of education and class. There are huge disparities in quality of education in Kenya among the rural and urban schools resulting to a big difference in performance in National examination. The Kenya government strong commitment to ensuring education for all" through the introduction of free primary education in 2003 is very commendable but there is a need to implement worldwide accredited education solution that will address disparities in access to quality education among the schools in rural and urban set ups. Amidst the many challenges the government is facing, it is fully committed to an education system that guarantees the right of every learner to quality and relevant education. Gilat innovative communication for school system through VSAT is one of such solutions that have far reaching effect in narrowing this gap. The government needs to move with speed to try and bridge the digital divide being experienced at the moment by investing in solutions that will offer equality in dissemination of learning. Use of computers, internet and other teaching aids are encouraged to enhance effective delivery of educational materials to students. Through this system; school in remote or rural areas can get similar content of education material and programs via satellite communication hence having a balanced approach while delivering content across the country. Such system has worked very well in the neighboring country Ethiopia where the education system guarantees both urban and rural students access to the same learning programs. Gilat is committed to work with the government of Kenya through the ministry of Information and Communication, Kenya ICT Board, the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to bring the required technical and material support to make this a reality. Page 3

Benefits of Satellite Communications for Education Solutions This section lists the specific attributes of VSAT networks as the communications platform for schools. Bringing digital information to remote classrooms There are a number of different educational technology systems available for schools. They all share a common requirement to bring digital information to remote classrooms. The following table shows the purpose of the communications system in each of these cases: Educational Technology System Computer-based instruction Digital schoolbooks and exams Interactive Distant Learning (IDL) Requirement for a Communication Network Transmit the digital instruction modules to the schools. Send software updates and new content. Transmit updated content to the schools. Collect digital exam result statistics and summaries. Transmit live video broadcasts of the lessons to the schools. Enable remote pupil interaction with the instructor. Beyond this fundamental role of the communications system in supporting the educational technology solution there is additional value that comes from implementing a communications system at schools: Monitor the progress and usage of the deployed system Allow pupils to access remote libraries Email and other Internet services for the school Platform for developing internet literacy Telephony system for the rural schools and their surrounding community Page 4

Multicast Satellite based VSAT networks have the inherent ability to transmit digital content to multiple sites at remote locations without the need to duplicate the transmitted traffic. This capability translates into significant cost savings in networks where multicast traffic is required. Communications for schools is one of these cases. Here are some examples: Distant Learning systems allow curriculum equity throughout schools in all regions. These systems need to broadcast the live video of the instructor to all of the schools simultaneously. This is made possible when using a VSAT networks with the integrated multicast capability. Offline learning applications such as recorded video, podcasts and electronic learning material can be simultaneously uploaded to all of the schools in parallel via the VSAT using multicast transmission. Multiple forms of content VSAT networks support a wide range of different types of traffic including Internet, data, telephony, voice and video broadcast or conferencing, multimedia streaming. This means that a VSAT network is an infrastructure that enables schools to deploy: Internet access, emails, phone and cellular connectivity A system for the pupils to participate in distant learning sessions A system for training the teachers Education TV channels broadcast directly to the schools Network Scalability The fact that VSAT networks are entirely independent of terrestrial infrastructure they can be expanded with great ease and a fast as necessary. This makes it possible for a VSAT network for schools begin at an initial pilot stage connecting only a small group of schools and then expand to a large scale network encompassing many thousands of schools. This allows governments to develop the project within the initial budget constraints and to grow the project as soon as funds become available without waiting for infrastructure to be built. Rural Deployment VSAT networks are commonly deployed in rural locations including site with harsh conditions. These sites can include solar power to overcome electricity outages or limited power infrastructure. All of the installed equipment can be surrounded by a fence or placed on a tall construction to prevent unauthorized tampering with the system. As this network is independent of the terrestrial infrastructure there is no risk of outages due to cable disconnection. Page 5

Infrastructure for additional e-government projects Having a VSAT network installed at school locations can serve the government for additional projects that require connectivity. Here are some examples: Elections polling sites are commonly located at schools. For countries that plan to deploy automated election systems, having a government owned VSAT network covering the rural schools is highly beneficial. On Election Day, the school VSAT network can be used and there is no need to invest in deploying a dedicated network for the elections. Telemedicine a VSAT network deployed at rural schools can also be used to allow the government to provide telemedicine services to the rural community in the vicinity of the school. Government Portal the school network can be used to allow the government to provide services to the remote rural communities as well as keeping them informed and educated on important aspects of health, agriculture, employment, economy and citizenship. SkyEdge II is based on the concept of a single hub which can efficiently work with different types of VSATs to support different needs and applications. SkyEdge II system was designed to be used for multiple purposes simultaneously and can be further shared with other e-government projects such as health, police, election and other government applications. Page 6

Integrated End-to-End Solutions Gilat takes full responsibility for the entire project Enterprises, governments and operators that take on projects need to create a high quality efficient solution within a minimal timeframe. Organizations need to have access to up-to-date technologies required and have a dedicated team of professionals to support the logistic demands of the project. This is especially true for projects that involve connecting of many remote locations in rural areas. In these cases Gilat provides the organization with a full turnkey service for the management and deployment of the project no matter how remote the sites are. Gilat s skilled project professionals handle the project management, solution design, equipment procurement, installation and integration. Gilat delivers a fully operational system including all of the sub-systems within the desired timeframe. The benefits to the client are the following: Ensures project success Full control of budget and schedule no last minute surprises Fast return on investment at minimal risk Receive a complete integrated solution that is up and running Our professional project personnel and worldwide presence and local support have allowed us to successfully deliver many large scale turnkey projects around the world. Page 7

Project Management Gilat takes a Customer First approach to projec t management, taking full responsibility for meeting the project goals and objectives within the scope, time and budget. Gilat employs a group of skilled project managers, experienced in accompanying customers through all of the phases of a project. Our project managers work closely with the customer in understanding and clearly defining the requirements and the constraints. Gilat has acquired experience in large-scale rural projects which have required a great deal more than just delivering a technology. These projects involve designing customized solutions, provision and integration of multiple systems, development of management and monitoring tools, logistics, training and on-site support. The share of technology in large scale projects Page 8

Solution Design Gilat provides System Design and Planning services to our customers at the early stages of a turnkey project Solution design is a key factor in the success of a project. Creating a well formulated design and project plan is the best way to ensure that the system will be deployed on time and within the budget constraints. The design phase is a step-by-step process the first stage of which is analyzing and defining the solution requirements. Then the solution is broken down into subsystems (e.g. hardware, applications, communications, logistics, security etc.) and the available products are evaluated. The next stage is the system topology planning to reach the required number of units for the system. Then the most suitable products are evaluated, selected and finally tested to ensure that they meet the system requirements. The network design includes the following stages: An advantage of Gilat s solutions is that they are designed to be used for multiple purposes once a new need arises. e.g. an Education infrastructure can be shared with other e-government projects such as border control, police, election and rural applications. Implementation and Integration Gilat can leverage its experience in integrating 3 rd party systems and developing customized solutions Page 9

Gilat s End-to-End solution includes Installation and Integration. This involves the delivery of a system that includes 3 rd party equipment for various purposes such as connectivity, telephony, power, security and application and the development of management and monitoring systems that integrate the separate components of the system. Page 10

Deployment Logistics Gilat has gained experience in deploying projects logistically challenging areas Satellite communication is a critical component in rural projects since reliable terrestrial communication is virtually non-existent in these regions. VSATs are therefore the most practical and cost-effective choice that also enable rapid deployment of communications to the villages. Since the VSAT technology is based on a central hub, the remote villages do not need any technical expertise to have the network up and running. Page 11

Operational Services The Operational Services that Gilat and its subsidiari es provide include system logistics, installation, helpdesk, performance monitoring, equipment maintenance and training Having a single point of contact for the operational aspects of a project saves money, time and resources. Gilat offers customers system operation services. Gilat operates as a service provider in rural areas in Latin America. In these regions, Gilat uses the Build-and- Operate model for subsidized government projects. The services include operating public phones and telecenters and distributing pre-paid cards for telephone usage at remote villages. In addition, Gilat uses its infrastructure to provide services to enterprises and residential customers. Gilat also provides customers in the USA with value-added services, including hybrid networks and outsourced network management. Gilat s equipment and services are deployed at more than 100,000 business, government and residential locations in the U.S. Spacenet customers include Dollar General, Goodyear, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Sunoco. Page 12

Maintenance and Support Simplified maintenance through a Centralized Control Approach An important part of Gilat s End-to-End solution is the Maintenance and Support service. This includes providing the necessary updates and repairs to the equipment in the system to ensure smooth and fault free running of the system through helpdesk services, on-site technician support and training. Having the need to maintain or dispatch product specialist to remote sites introduces logistic difficulty and high cost. Gilat understands this and therefore designs and build solutions that have the system intelligence and complexity at the central site while the equipment at the remote location is simple and robust. This design reduces the risk of remote site faults requiring on-site specialist attention and allows full control of system by the experts located at the central site. Sophisticated Central Site Simple, Robust Remote Sites Page 13

Case Studies Enciclomedia, Mexico Enciclomedia is an initiative of the Mexican government for a computer-based program integrating federal education resources such as textbooks and digital content to enrich the student s classroom experience, encourage student participation and enhance learning outcomes. Enciclomdeia is the largest digital education project in the world, and is planned to cover approximately 140,000 5 th and 6 th grade classrooms across Mexico. Gilat was selected as one of the system integrators for the delivery of the Enciclomedia system. The project required an end-to-end solution providing monitoring, communications, management and operations of the system. Monitoring the equipment was identified as a critical requirement. The monitoring sub-systems, designed and delivered by Gilat, enabled the control center to identify equipment failure and improper use of the equipment. The system designed by Gilat was optimized for the conditions in Mexican schools, such as power outages, heat and dust. The Communications network is based on a mix of satellite and wireless technologies for connecting the schools to the main facilities connecting the classrooms within the school. One of the benefits of the communications network is the use of VoIP and Instant Messaging technologies to enable teachers receive immediate assistance from the support center when needed. Management and Operations of the system including operations of the communication network and monitoring of the e-learning equipment by identifying problems before they affect the system and proactively fixing them. Gilat is responsible for the operations of the system for the length of the project. Gilat s experience working with governments worldwide to improve their public communications infrastructure and educational services was invaluable in the support of this program. Gilat delivered a turnkey solution that included Integration of Monitoring, Communications and Management along with Operations with rapid deployment of the system in close to 16,000 schools throughout Mexico Page 14

VSAT communications in Colombian schools Informatica Datapoint de Colombia Ltda. is considered the leading provider of computer systems integration and deployment of communication networks in Colombia. With more than 25 years of experience, the company has earned a reputation for successfully implementing a wide range of solutions for financial services, education and government markets. Determined to offer the latest technology and educational resources to elementary schools and share the expertise of the country s most experienced, highly skilled instructors, the ministry of education chose Informatica to implement the new education program which would bring broadband Internet access to the schools. Informatica was commissioned to provide a flexible solution, bringing always-on broadband Internet access to 650 schools throughout Colombia regardless of the terrain or geographic location. The solution had to support simultaneous broadcast of rich content such as video and distribute it reliably from a single source to a large number of remote sites. The first implementation stage included the deployment of a hub and 650 remote VSATs scattered in classrooms around the country with 15 to 22 PCs in each classroom. In many of the schools, more than one Internet Access classroom was set-up sharing the same connection. The star topology nature of the network enabled the Colombian Ministry of Education to ensure that communication passes through a single central network distributor. This provides meaningful advantages in terms of management, security and denying access to harmful contents and securing educational content control. This networks enabled the Ministry of Education to benefit from the use of satellite Multicast networking technology where rich content may be distributed from a single source to a large number of remote sites at the same time while optimizing satellite resources. Gilat s VSAT technology seamlessly integrates with supplementary technologies such as MPEG, video and TV broadcast together with Internet access. High quality videos developed for educational purposes may be simultaneously streamed to all the schools over the network. Gilat s VSAT technology utilizes IP based video streaming, which enables educators to incorporate the video content with their web-based educational content creating a vivid and interactive learning experience. Page 15