CallPlus serves schools’ need for speed

Media Release
13 March 2013

CallPlus serves schools’ need for speed

In a number of industry firsts, CallPlus has brought a staggering 140 schools onboard for Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) services, bringing faster internet to over 15 percent of New Zealand’s UFB fibre-ready schools in less than six months.

CallPlus was the first telco provider to offer unlimited ultra-fast internet to New Zealand schools, enabling them to fully harness the learning benefits of the government’s UFB and Rural Broadband initiatives without worrying about data caps and costs.

Kelvin Hussey, General Manager of CallPlus, is proud to have pioneered unlimited UFB for New Zealand schools and believes their successful roll out comes down to understanding what schools require.

“Prior to UFB CallPlus were already providing communications solutions to one in four New Zealand Schools, so we had a firm understanding of what they needed. That we were the first provider to secure over 100 schools nationwide and also the first to provide UFB to schools in all regional areas of the country is testament to that fact.

“We believe schools should be able to take full advantage of UFB without cost or data caps being an obstacle.”

The CallPlus UFB offerings are appealing to schools across the country regardless of location, size, or technology capabilities.

“The education sector is embracing UFB with such vigour it is really exciting to see how excited teachers, students, even entire communities are about being connected and changing the entire learning environment,” continues Hussey.

Steve Merritt, IT Manager at Whangarei Boys’ High School, has already seen the advantages that UFB is having on the school and the greater access in classrooms.

“We’re not restricted by location anymore, we can teach in multiple areas across the school and students have faster connections to the outside world. We can host video conferencing, distance learning and provide new, exciting class work. The possibilities are endless.”

On a CallPlus UFB Start Up Plan, a school can get unlimited ultra-fast internet over a fibre connection, online backup to disaster proof their data, a web domain and web hosting for their website, email to bulk SMS to easily keep in touch with parents, and two voice lines with low cost calling options.

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to education, CallPlus works with Slingshot on the Better Schools programme – an initiative that enables schools not only to reduce their communications costs but to actually raise funds.

“When a school joins CallPlus they are added to our Better Schools programme,” says Hussey. “Parents and friends of the school who use Slingshot then select the school online and CallPlus will donate a percentage of the customer’s monthly bill to their school of choice.

“Whether the money goes towards new sports gear, IT equipment or some library books, it is all about helping schools and putting money back into educating our young people.”

For more information on the CallPlus UFB Start Up Plan or the Better Schools programme visit www.callplus.co.nz

Or visit

www.callplus.co.nz/schoolufbcalculator

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