AQEP Internet Connectivity Report March 2017 David Leeming Australian Aid: managed by Palladium on behalf of the Australian Government and in collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Education AQEP INTERNET CONNECTIVITY REPORT Contents Acronyms and abbreviations .....................................................................................................................4 1 Executive summary .............................................................................................................................5 2 Terms of reference...............................................................................................................................8 3 Methodology.........................................................................................................................................8 4 Needs analysis and minimum standards for connectivity .............................................................10 4.1 School connectivity needs ...........................................................................................................10 4.2 School connectivity planning .......................................................................................................12 4.3 Defining connectivity: broadband ................................................................................................14 4.4 Defining a minimum standard of connectivity for schools............................................................15 5 Survey of school connectivity ..........................................................................................................18 5.1 Consultations with Divisional and District EOs ............................................................................18 5.2 FEMIS survey..............................................................................................................................19 5.3 Schools using VSAT....................................................................................................................21 5.4 Case studies................................................................................................................................23 5.5 Triangulation of the data..............................................................................................................25 5.6 Prioritised lists of schools that need improved connectivity .........................................................26 6 Recommended access technology for schools ..............................................................................28 6.1 Option 1: Low cost method using a 4G dongle and router...........................................................29 6.2 Option 2: High performance outdoor modem with Wi-Fi..............................................................30 6.3 Microwave links (fixed wireless broadband) ................................................................................32 6.4 VSAT...........................................................................................................................................33 6.5 ISP data.......................................................................................................................................34 7 Estimated costs .................................................................................................................................35 8 Recommendations.............................................................................................................................40 9 Next steps...........................................................................................................................................43 Annex 1: Considerations for sustainable school connectivity .............................................................44 Annex 2: List of Schools identified by Divisional and District Education Officers .............................45 Annex 3: Responses to the FEMIS survey Y/N questions .....................................................................51 Annex 4: Responses to the FEMIS survey short text questions...........................................................53 Annex 5: List of schools using TFL’s VSAT solution (VTSAT) .............................................................57 Annex 6: List of schools identified by the FEMIS survey and confirmed by DEOs.............................59 Annex 7: Top Priority List (79 schools confirmed with “no connectivity”)..........................................61 Annex 8: High Priority List (100 schools confirmed with “poor connectivity”)...................................64 Annex 9: Medium Priority List (130 schools with mixed connectivity issues) ....................................68 Annex 10: Lower Priority List (62 schools with “slow but stable” connections) ................................72 Annex 11: Mini Case Studies ...................................................................................................................74 Nabobuco District School, Nausori District (ID 1828)..............................................................................74 Wainimala Secondary School (ID 9439) and Ratu Alipate Memorial School (ID 1854) ..........................76 Bemana District School, Nadroga-Navosa District (ID 1740)..................................................................78 Natutale Primary School, Nadroga-Navosa District (ID 1765) ................................................................80 Bayly Memorial School, Ra District (ID 2024) .........................................................................................82 Navesau Adventist High School, Ra District (ID 2048) ...........................................................................84 PAGE 2 AQEP INTERNET CONNECTIVITY REPORT Bucalevu Primary School, Ra District (ID 2046) .....................................................................................86 Nabala Secondary School, Macuata-Bua District (ID 9249) ...................................................................87 Naduri District School, Macuata-Bua District (ID 1609) ..........................................................................89 Cadranasiga District School, Macuata-Bua District (ID 1606).................................................................91 Korotolutolu Primary School, Macuata-Bua District (ID 1661) ................................................................93 Seaqaqa Primary School, Macuata-Bua District (ID 1641) .....................................................................95 Ratu Luke Memorial School, Macuata-Bua District (ID 1110).................................................................97 Annex 12: Examples of access technologies .........................................................................................98 Annex 13: TFL’s VTSAT price schedules..............................................................................................102 Annex 14: Consultations ........................................................................................................................103 Annex 15: Generic specifications for recommended access technologies.......................................104 Annex 16: Pilot project outline...............................................................................................................105 Tables Table 1: Internet use / applications observed in schools visited..................................................................12 Table 2: Approaches to school connectivity planning (Connect A School, ITU) ..........................................13 Table 3: Features of Broadband..................................................................................................................14 Table 4: Example of targets set for schools in the UK in 2012 with two typical school configurations ........15 Table 5: Suggested broadband targets for schools.....................................................................................16 Table 6: Additional criteria for sustainable permanent connectivity for schools...........................................17 Table 7: Schools with inadequate connectivity as judged by District officers ..............................................19 Table 8: Detail from the aggregated Y/N survey responses ........................................................................20 Table 9: Summary of responses to FEMIS text question 5 (389 responses)...............................................21 Table 10: TFL data on schools with VSATs (VTSAT Ku-band) ...................................................................22 Table 11: Schools in Eastern Division that own a VSAT or have access to a community VSAT.................22 Table 12: Summary of schools that need improved connectivity.................................................................26 Table 13: Cost estimates for the Top priority list of schools ........................................................................35 Table 14: Cost estimates for the High priority list of schools .......................................................................36 Table 15: Cost estimates for the Medium priority list of schools..................................................................37 Table 16: Cost estimates for the Lower priority list of schools.....................................................................38 Table 17: Cost estimates summary.............................................................................................................39